Reported robbery

One man reportedly robbed a Town and Country store and ran off with two packs of beer, according to Odessa police. A store clerk reported the suspect fled in a silver Dodge welding truck with two cylindrical tanks sticking out of the bed. And half an hour later, police found a truck, occupied by two men, that matched the description with 17 of 36 beers emptied.

"I'm going to take them across the street," one officer told another at the scene of the arrest, which was conveniently located across from the Odessa Police Department at Second Street and Grant Street.

Rene Jose Marquez, 43, was charged with aggravated robbery at about 10:45 p.m. Thursday in connection to a reported robbery at 316 S. Grant Ave.

Cpl. Chris Aguilar said he found a silver Dodge Ram heading north on Dixie Boulevard that matched the description, store clerk Barry Wright gave to the police, and followed them until they passed right in front of the police station. After pulling them over, other officers found two packs of Budweiser they believed was taken from the store.

Wright and Cpl. Ricky Herring, at the store, said a middle-aged Hispanic male knocked on the window at about 9:30 p.m. and waved a black handgun.

Wright said he looked down when he saw the gun, then the man ran in the store and pointed it at him, telling him "don't move." The clerk said the man then ran to the beer cooler, took the two 18-packs and jumped in a silver Dodge truck with welding equipment.

"It freaked me out, kind of like my life flashed before my eyes," Wright said.

Aguilar said the police did not find the handgun reportedly used in the robbery by 11 p.m.

Herring said Wright provided good information that helped them quickly find the car they suspect was used in the robbery.