Larry Donell Malone

A man suspected of armed robbery was taken into custody Wednesday night after a brief tussle with an Athens police officer, an official said.

Chief Floyd Johnson said 58-year-old Larry Donell Malone of 19545 George Washington St., Tanner, is accused of robbing an employee of China Dragon on East Hobbs Street shortly before 8 p.m. The chief said Malone approached the employee, pulled a handgun and demanded money.

After ordering the employee to the ground and instructing him not to look at him, Johnson said Malone kicked the employee in the face. The employee then got up and ran back toward the restaurant while Malone ran toward Hobbs Street.

Shortly after 9 p.m., police officer Jarod Smith located a man fitting Malone’s description on Westmoreland Avenue at Colbert Street. Johnson said the man walked away from the officer and then began to run.

Smith later caught the suspect, identified as Malone, on Hardy Street. After a struggle, Smith took Malone into custody.

“While Malone was resisting Smith, Malone kept trying to reach into his coat pocket,” Chief Johnson said. “After Malone’s arrest, Smith found a Taurus pistol in Malone’s coat pocket.”

Malone was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, resisting arrest, attempting to elude a police officer and possession of a concealed weapon without a permit. Malone was booked at the police department and transferred to the county jail. Bond was set at at $4,250.