Man Arrested in $17 Rum Robbery

Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested a man who they say  and knocked down a store clerk on the Fourth of July.

Detectives identified Archie W. Higgins, 36, of Little John Lane, from surveillance video from Luekens Liquors and citizen and deputy tips.

Higgins was arrested on charges of principle felony retail theft and robbery July 15.

Detectives say a clerk noticed Higgins had wrapped two bottles of RonDiaz Rum in a blue shirt that he was carrying through  the store. She approached him as he left and followed him outside. She tried to pull the T-shirt away from him when he spun around, struck her in the upper body and knocked her to the ground, according to detectives.

The man fled on foot, and the clerk recovered the shirt and liquor bottles before returning to work, according to detectives. She was treated for minor scrapes.

The two bottles of rum cost $17.10, including tax, according to detectives.