Police in Sulphur Springs arrested a man who police say carried a gun into a Wal-Mart store late Friday night, causing an evacuation of the store. 40-year-old Hollis B. Sartin was later taken into custody on Saturday morning while hitchhiking.
Workers at the Wal-Mart in the 1700 block of Broadway Street called police after seeing a man walk into the store carrying a handgun. They gave a description of a pick-up truck that he exited. Published reports said a trace of the vehicle's identification connected it with a stolen pick-up truck from Arkansas.
Sulphur Springs police chief James Sanders said the store was evacuated. Officers took a look at surveillance video and recognized Sartin from earlier encounters. Then a police SWAT team swept the store.
The department said Sartin changed clothes and walked out with other customers.
Police said he was later taken into custody without incident around 6:30 a.m. Saturday in Hopkins County. He is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Investigators recovered Sartin's B.B. gun. He is expected to be arraigned on Monday.
Published reports said Sartin has a criminal history dating back 23 years.
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The Wal-Mart store reopened on Saturday.
