Three arrested in Casey’s robbery

Columbia police have arrested three people in the robbery of Casey’s General Store on Clark Lane.

29-year-old Tyrel Lemley, 25-year-old Kristina Whitmarsh, and 24-year-old Laith Meeker were arrested for robbery in the first degree. Meeker was also arrested for armed criminal action and resisting arrest.

The call came out just before 11 p.m. Monday. Police say a white man wearing a green ski mask came into the store with a gun, demanded money from the cash register and safe and then fled on foot.

Officers say it was not a Halloween mask, as was the case in four armed robberies last week.

Not too far from the scene on Ballenger Lane, a Highway Patrol Trooper pulled over a Ford Taurus and one of the people inside took off, the two other people in the car were detained. With the help of a K-9 unit they arrested the person who fled.