Hall deputies arrest Talmo man for armed robbery

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A Talmo man is facing felony charges after Hall County deputies say he robbed a convenience store at knifepoint early Wednesday and is also suspected in a separate incident last week in which a store clerk was struck by a vehicle.

According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 4:40 a.m. June 24 to the Chevron Food Mart at 2178 Candler Road, following a reported armed robbery.

Investigators said a man entered the store, displayed a knife and went behind the counter. He allegedly took two boxes of kratom products containing about 60 pills before fleeing on foot. Authorities said the suspect then got into a vehicle and left the area.

The 56-year-old female clerk was not injured. The stolen merchandise was valued at approximately $420.

Deputies interviewed the clerk and a witness who saw the suspect leave the parking lot. Through the investigation, authorities identified the suspect as James Kyle Whitley, 37, of Talmo.

Investigators reviewed a social media account associated with Whitley and obtained information about his employer. Deputies located and arrested Whitley without incident around 8:45 a.m. at his workplace in the 1600 block of Oakbrook Drive. They also recovered a black 2015 Kia Optima that investigators say was used during the robbery.

Whitley was charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault, both felonies.

Following his arrest, investigators with the sheriff’s office Special Investigations Unit interviewed Whitley regarding another incident at a convenience store on Candler Road.

Authorities said that on June 18, a man entered Zack’s Food Rack at 2052 Candler Road and asked to purchase multiple packs of a kratom product. After the 53-year-old female clerk handed him the items, the man allegedly ran from the store and got into a vehicle.

Investigators said the clerk followed him outside and stood in front of the vehicle, demanding that he stop. The suspect then drove forward, striking the clerk in the knees before leaving the scene. The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

At the time, deputies used surveillance footage and other investigative methods to tentatively identify the vehicle involved as a black Kia Optima registered to Whitley.

The sheriff’s office said charges related to the June 18 incident are still pending.

Whitley was booked into the Hall County Jail and is being held without bond.