When the man came out of the restroom he discovered his girlfriend had left him there, the clerk said. The helpful clerk allowed the stranded man to use the store phone behind the counter in order to call for another ride. But the suspect was less than appreciative, it seemed. The man, according to the police report, armed himself with a beer bottle and demanded money from the store employee. After the man was given the money, he fled the store.
Police say that is where the story gets very interesting.
Suddenly the store phone rang. The caller was one of those the suspect had called in his quest for a ride. The police officer got on the line, questioned the caller and got the suspect's name and possible whereabouts. Howell fled when police arrived, but officers chased him down and apprehended him. Howell was booked into the Putnam County jail on a charge of strong-arm robbery.