Knoxville police search for armed robber, possible truck thief

Knoxville police search for armed robber, possible truck thief

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Police are investigating an armed robbery at a West Knoxville gas station Monday night. 

It happened at the Mapco station at 7301 Middlebrook Pike around 10:45 p.m. Monday. 

Officers say a black man walked into the store with a gun and demanded money. He took off with an undisclosed amount of cash in a white Chevy truck.

Knox County sheriff's deputies tracked down the truck a short time later on Robinson Road. A black female passenger jumped out, but the truck continued driving. 

Deputies say the woman wasn't injured, but they took her into custody for questioning. She was later charged in connection with the robbery, but authorities haven't released her name.

Minutes later, police found the truck crashed into a tree. It turned out to be stolen. 

Officers began pursuing the suspect through the woods with the help of a K-9 officer, but their search turned up nothing.  It was called off after about an hour.