An Athens man charged with stealing on Jan. 5 was arrested again early Tuesday for allegedly robbing Murphy USA gas station on U.S. 31 South, an official said.

Vantella Lamont Malone, 40, of 708 Plato Jones St., is charged with third-degree robbery, according to press release issued by Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson.

Shortly before 2 a.m., a Murphy USA clerk reported the robbery to police.

“When officers arrived, the clerk said a black man demanded the money and then pushed her to the ground,” Johnson said in the release. “He then took money from the register and left the scene.”

Based on the clerk’s description of the robber, Lt. Dusty Meadows saw a man fitting the description walking on U.S. 31 a few minutes later, Johnson said. When Meadows pulled over, the man ran into the field behind Walmart, the chief said.

Meadows chased the man and was able to take him into custody behind the ABC store, Johnson said.

In addition to the robbery charge, Malone was arrested on an outstanding warrant for first-degree theft of property for taking a coin purse and $103 from a person on Jan. 5. The theft occurred at J Mart on U.S. 72 at Hine Street, he said.

Investigator Jonathan Caldwell looked into the case and obtained the warrant.

In both cases, the victims were not injured.

Malone was booked at the police department and transferred to the Limestone County Jail, where bail is set at $10,000.