Richard Mark Hatfield: Suspect Charged in Robbery of Dollar General Stores

Charges have been formally filed against the suspect believed to be responsible for the recent armed robberies at two Dollar General Stores in Newton County. Richard Mark Hatfield, a 62-year-old resident of Neosho, has been arrested and is currently being held on a cash bond of $250,000.

The charges against Hatfield include two counts of First Degree Armed Robbery, two counts of Attempted Armed Robbery, and Felony Resisting. It is alleged that Hatfield targeted the Dollar General Stores and carried out the robberies with a weapon.

The breakthrough in the case occurred when a vigilant detective, who had been monitoring one of the stores, approached a vehicle and observed a driver with black paint on his face, matching the description provided by witnesses. Sensing danger, Hatfield tried to escape but was eventually apprehended.

During the arrest, Hatfield shouted at the officers, claiming to have a gun and warning them to stay away, before fleeing on foot into the darkness. The determined detectives were able to track Hatfield’s whereabouts and traced him to the Bed and Bath hotel on 59 Highway in Neosho.

Upon locating Hatfield in one of the hotel rooms, officers found him attempting to remove the paint from his face, further implicating him in the robberies. He was promptly taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning.

During the interrogation, Hatfield admitted to his involvement in the two previous robberies. Investigators also discovered several hundred dollars believed to be stolen from the Dollar General Stores in the hotel room where Hatfield had been staying.

Arrest Made in Dollar General Store Robberies

Charges have been formally filed against the suspect believed to be responsible for the recent armed robberies at two Dollar General Stores in Newton County. Richard Mark Hatfield, a 62-year-old resident of Neosho, has been arrested and is currently being held on a cash bond of $250,000.

The charges against Hatfield include two counts of First Degree Armed Robbery, two counts of Attempted Armed Robbery, and Felony Resisting. It is alleged that Hatfield targeted the Dollar General Stores and carried out the robberies with a weapon.

The breakthrough in the case occurred when a vigilant detective, who had been closely monitoring one of the stores, approached a vehicle and observed a driver with black paint on his face, matching the description provided by witnesses. Sensing imminent danger, Hatfield attempted to flee but was eventually apprehended by the determined detective.

During the arrest, Hatfield aggressively shouted at the officers, claiming to possess a firearm and warning them to stay away, before making a desperate escape on foot into the darkness. Undeterred, the detectives skillfully tracked Hatfield’s movements and meticulously pieced together crucial evidence, leading them to the Bed and Bath hotel on 59 Highway in Neosho.

Upon locating Hatfield in one of the hotel rooms, officers discovered him frantically trying to eradicate the black paint from his face, further implicating him in the series of robberies. Hatfield was promptly taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff’s Office for intensive questioning.

During the interrogation, Hatfield, under mounting pressure, confessed to his involvement in the two previous robberies. Investigators, determined to recover the stolen funds, meticulously searched the hotel room where Hatfield had been staying and successfully recovered several hundred dollars believed to be the proceeds from the Dollar General Store robberies.

The swift and effective response by law enforcement, coupled with the vigilance of the detective, has brought some relief to the affected Dollar General Stores and the community at large. The arrest and charging of Richard Mark Hatfield serve as a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the local authorities in ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents of Newton County.