William Allison

Athens Police have arrested a man they believe robbed two local fast-food establishments in recent weeks.

William Timothy Allison, 46, of 24519 Rolling Vista Drive, Athens, was arrested Wednesday on charges of both first- and third-degree robbery, Athens Police Capt. Trevor Harris said in a press release Thursday.

In recent weeks, Athens Police Department responded to two separate robberies on U.S. 72 near Interstate 65.

The first occurred at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 6 at Athens Dairy Queen. The second occurred at 10 p.m. Feb. 10 at Hardee’s.

Hardee’s employees told police the suspect had a handgun. Witnesses from both scenes told police the suspect fled in a red four-door car.

APD detectives soon developed Allison as a suspect, Harris said. They later learned of a similar robbery that occurred Feb. 11 in Franklin, Tennessee.

Athens and Franklin police departments then collaborated in a two-state search for Williams.

On Tuesday afternoon, Athens police executed a search warrant at Williams’ Rolling Vista Drive home. However, he was not home. Officers kept the house under surveillance until Williams returned in his red Hyundai Sonata 24 hours later, Harris said. As patrol officers approached Williams’ residence, he ran but was quickly apprehended.

Williams was taken to APD for questioning, and Franklin detectives drove to Athens Wednesday night to observe the interview, Harris said.

Allison was booked on one count of third-degree robbery for the Dairy Queen incident and one count of first-degree robbery for the Hardee’s incident.

Franklin police have also obtained an aggravated robbery warrant against Williams for the crime that occurred in their city, Harris said.