Joplin man arrested following armed robbery of ZIps Convenience Store on South Connecticut

(From the Joplin Police Department)

This morning, 2-15-2018 at 4:37 a.m., Officers were dispatched to Zips Convenience Store, 2115 South Connecticut, in reference to an armed robbery. The clerk said a male had forced him into the bathroom, robbed him of his personal belongings, then stole alcohol and tobacco from the store. He then forced the clerk to give him money from the register.

During the robbery, the suspect was holding a handgun. He left in a vehicle and wasn’t located.

Responding officers and detectives were able to identify the suspect positively, but unable to locate him immediately. 

Later this morning, at 10:44 a.m., Fastrip Convenience Store at 1201 South Range Line called police and stated the suspect from the earlier robbery was in their store. They had recognized him from a surveillance photo shared between stores from the robbery. Responding officers stopped the suspect leaving in a vehicle at 12th and Range Line at 10:50 a.m. and arrested the robbery suspect without incident.

The arrested suspect is identified as Willie J. Spencer, 39, Joplin. Charges are being submitted to the Jasper County Prosecutor for 1st Degree Robbery. He is currently being held in the Joplin City Jail. The mugshot is from a 2-12-2018 Joplin Police Department arrest of Spencer.