Man arrested for second attempted robbery at local Columbia gas station in less than a week

UPDATE 6/14 7:00-ABC 17 News confirmed with police that a man did attempt to rob the Eagle Stop.

Police arrested Robert Garcia on suspicion of robbery in the first degree.

The police say they had dealt with Garcia earlier in the evening when they got a call about a suspicious person. Hours later, Garcia apparently attempted to rob the Eagle Stop on Providence Road.

Both the clerk and the security guard inside the gas station said Garcia held up his hand as if he had a gun, but say the guard was able to detain him. The guard says he also found a knife on Garcia. The guard apparently took Garcia outside and waited for the police to arrest him.

This is the exact same clerk who was in the convenience store when it was robbed last week. This was also the security guard’s first shift.

ORIGINAL STORY:Columbia police received a call a little before 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning about an apparent robbery at the Eagle Stop on Providence Road.

Through scanner traffic, ABC17 learned that the man was extremely intoxicated with a beer in his hand. The scanner also indicated the man had a knife.

This is the second time in less than a week that police have responded to a robbery call at the Eagle Stop.

In last week’s robbery, the gas station clerk was outside when a man approached him, showed him his gun and demanded to go inside.

The suspect hit the clerk over his right eye, grabbed an unknown amount of money and ran.

Police have not told ABC17 if they have made any arrests in last weeks robbery.

ABC17 will update the story when they learn more information about this mornings apparent robbery.