Suspects held under $300,000 bond

By Victor Inge

The Selma Times-Journal

Two men charged in the Saturday night robbery of AutoZone in Selma are each being held on $300,000 bond.

Eric Young, 33, and Christopher Baity, 36, were arraigned Monday in Dallas County District Court. Both men waived their rights to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Bob Armstrong, and were bound over to a grand jury.

Captured on the store’s video surveillance system brandishing firearms, Young and Baity forced the store employees back inside just as they were leaving for the night. An undetermined amount of cash was taken, along with more than $400 from one of the two victims, according to police reports.

The store employees, forced to lay face down on the floor,

told police their attackers wore black ski masks, dark clothing and black gloves. Once the alleged robbers fled, a 911 call alerted police and the area was quickly surrounded, police said.

Selma Police Chief Jimmy Martin commended everyone involved in making the speedy arrests.

“These guys were no strangers to the system,” Martin said. “The case is still under investigation. Others will be questioned. We’re looking to see if they were involved in anything else around here.”

Young, who listed an address of 1200 Green St., has a previous arrest record. Baity, 1207 Lawrence St., also had a previous arrest record, and had been on probation for an offense in Ohio, according to court officials.

Both men were transported to the Dallas County Jail, pending release on bond.

“I want to give credit to our officers,” Martin said. “After the call from the E911 dispatchers, our officers quickly set up a perimeter.”

Both men were believed to have been on foot. Baity was found lying on the ground, hiding behind a bush near an abandoned house on Ninth Avenue. Young was captured after police saw him running near Mr. Roy’s on Citizens Parkway.

Officers Jimmy Crowe, Reginald Fitts, Jonathan Cole, Jeff Hardy, Frederick Walker, Chris Harris and Kendall Thomas are credited with apprehending the suspects. Det. Sandra Washburn is in charge off the investigation, Martin said.