CENTRAL CITY — A 32-year-old Sandoval man was arrested Sunday for the alleged afternoon robbery of Fay’s Place in Central City..

Dustin Charles Howell was arrested for alleged robbery and theft under $300. Howell’s arrest came after an investigation involving Central City and Centralia police, along with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Central City Sgt. Nick Heath, they received a report at 11:52 a.m. Sunday that Fay’s Place, formerly Bear’s Package Liquor on Green Street, had just been robbed.

The clerk described the subject as a white male wearing a black coat and a black stocking cap, but the cap had not been pulled over his face.

The subject reportedly entered the establishment, indicated he had a weapon and demanded money. He was given cash and he then fled the scene on foot.

Police were unable to immediately locate the subject. But upon viewing video surveillance, a Centralia officer believed he recognized the subject, whose girlfriend drove him around.

Law enforcement then received an anonymous tip that confirmed the Centralia officer’s identification of Howell as the subject.

Central City and Sandoval police officers, along with Marion County Sheriff’s deputies located Howell in Sandoval.

Heath says while at that location, Howell’s girlfriend arrived and they were both taken in for questioning, where it was determined the girlfriend was not involved.