Reported armed robbery at Dalton convenience store results in arrest

Published 8:30 am Wednesday, August 6, 2025

A man was arrested by Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office detectives Tuesday afternoon following a reported armed robbery in Dalton earlier in the morning.

A press release from Sheriff Darren Pierce provided by the sheriff’s office said Kenneth Jones entered the Dixie Corner Food Mart convenience store at 3000 E. Walnut Ave. near Pleasant Drive Tuesday morning.

“According to the store clerk, a man dressed in all black clothing and carrying a firearm entered the store and took approximately $3,000 in cash,” the release said.

Detective Brandon Fincher, the sheriff’s office’s public information officer, said the incident occurred at “roughly 9:30 that morning.”

During the following two hours, “detectives were able to determine that the suspect used a getaway vehicle, identify it and locate it at another convenience store in Dalton,” the release stated.

“When the vehicle was found by a Whitfield County deputy, Kenneth Jones was arrested without incident,” stated the release.

Fincher said the arrest took place “around 12:10 (p.m.), closer to three hours after the robbery.”

“He was apprehended at another convenience store on Glenwood Avenue, across from Glenwood Road,” Fincher said. “I can’t recall exactly what he was doing inside the store, but I believe he was on a ding ding (coin-operated gaming) machine when they approached him inside the store. I’ve not had a chance to talk to the person who encountered him yet, but I believe he was inside the store.”

Fincher said the sheriff’s office does not have suspicion that Jones was attempting another robbery inside the second convenience store and that “he was the only person involved in the entirety of the case,” adding that the case is still being “looked into” by the investigative office.

Fincher said due to the ongoing investigation he was unable to release information on how the getaway vehicle, described as an “older model, red SUV,” was identified by detectives, or if the firearm and the $3,000 in cash were recovered, “at this time.”

“I can say he has been arrested and, as of (2:30 p.m. on Tuesday), he’s being housed at the Whitfield County Jail for armed robbery,” Fincher said.

Although the incident is still under investigation, Fincher said “currently it seems the only thing that (Jones) was after was the money at the convenience store.”

“At this time, we don’t have any indication that he was after anything else other than the money,” he said.

In the release, Pierce said the sheriff’s office “strives to ensure that major incidents like this are handled quickly, professionally and correctly.”

“Thanks to the combined efforts of multiple divisions within our office, the public’s willingness to assist and our determination to keep criminals off our streets, we were able to make a swift arrest in this case,” the release stated.