Arrest made in Lyerly's Cleaners robbery

CHARLESTON - Police charged Joe Nathan Jenkins, 25, of 1315 5^th Ave. with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm and one count of attempted armed robbery, according to a statement released Friday.

Jenkins is accused of robbing Palmetto Awards on Ashley River Road at 9:15 a.m. June 8, according to the statement. He was allegedly armed with a gun at the time.

The attempted robbery charge stems from an incident on July 18, when a gunman attempted to enter the BP gas station at 1141 Old Towne Road, but fled when he found the business' door locked.

Jenkins is accused of robbing the Lyerly's Cleaners on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard at 4:40 p.m. July 20.

An off-duty police officer allegedly spotted Jenkins moments after the robbery, leading to a foot chase that initially shut down part of Diana Street in the Maryville neighborhood after officers believed the suspect had entered a home on the street.

Following a search of the house, which was empty, police located Jenkins nearby in the neighborhood.