Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputies Scott Rickert and Sgt. Steve Draper were in the 3800 block of Northside Drive patrolling when they heard a loud noise coming from the Circle K Store, located at 3802 Northside Drive, just before 2:00 a.m. Monday morning. Deputy Rickert and Sgt. Draper saw that a vehicle had hit the gas pumps and had started a fire at the store. They checked the vehicle, a 2014 Toyota Camry, and saw no one in it. The driver was running from the area and was caught by Sgt. Draper at the At&T Cleaners, located at 3823 Northside Drive.
Deputy Rickert did not see the clerk and he entered the store. Part of the store was in flames as he went inside and located the clerk behind the counter. Deputy Rickert grabbed the clerk and helped her safely get out of the building. No one was injured in the incident.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 30 year old Howard McKinney from Stockbridge Georgia, was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. He was transported to the Coliseum Northside Hospital for a blood test for the DUI. McKinney was transported from the hospital to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center and booked on the DUI charge. He remains in the jail with a bond amount of $1,850.00.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional CrimeStoppers at 877-68-CRIME.