Published: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008 / Updated: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008 07:55 AM

Two charged in armed robbery

Mount Holly store clerk held at knifepoint

Two men have been charged with armed robbery after police said one of them pulled a knife on a clerk at a Rock Hill convenience store, jumped the counter and snatched a cash register.

Police on Wednesday charged Jerry Dean Rollins, 24, of Fort Lawn and James Dustin Varnadore, 25, of Edgemoor in the robbery that happened early Tuesday at the Crenco Exxon at 2436 Mount Holly Road, said Capt. Jerry Hoffman of York County Sheriff's Office.

Other charges may be pending against both men, he said.

A 57-year-old male employee and a female clerk were working the overnight shift at the store when a man who police later identified as Rollins drove into the store parking lot just after 3:30 a.m.

Store surveillance video shows that a passenger in the truck moved behind the wheel as the driver got out of the truck and walked into the store, according to a sheriff's office incident report.

"There was another customer in the store, so he (the man) went to the bathroom to kill some time until the store was empty," store manager Cathy Harris said.

Video shows the man left the restroom and stopped by the candy aisle. Police say he approached the counter with some Spree candy.

After the clerk greeted him, the man pulled the knife out, according to police.

He demanded that the clerk open the cash register, but the clerk could not get the register to open. Video shows the man became frustrated and jumped onto the counter.

Then he jerked the register off the counter and ran, according to the report.

Neither employee was hurt during the incident, Harris said.

Police said the man took the register and $200 before leaving in a white Ford Ranger. It was not known if the money was in the register.

Authorities did not say which man they believe drove the truck from the store.

Rollins' criminal history reflects several driving and drug-related charges, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. Varnadore's history reflects charges ranging from breaking and entering and damage to property to simple assault and battery and criminal domestic violence, SLED notes. Varnadore is prohibited from possessing or acquiring a firearm, according to SLED.

A bond hearing was slated Wednesday night for Rollins and Varnadore. The pair remained in custody at York County Detention Center.