DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710020491
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   34 lines

ABUSE SUSPECT CHARGED WITH ROBBING STORE AND TRUCK DRIVER

A report of domestic violence Tuesday night led to the arrest of a man wanted in the weekend armed robbery of a book store.

By Wednesday, the suspect also had been charged with another nearby armed robbery.

Barry M. Thompson, 32, was arrested at his house in the 1000 block of Blythewood Lane about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and charged with domestic violence and destroying property.

Police said they had responded to a report from his girlfriend that he had beaten her.

Thompson also was served with outstanding warrants for two counts each of armed robbery and abduction and four counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the robbery Saturday at The Way Christian Bookstore Inc.

Police said a man armed with a handgun walked into the Holland Plaza shopping center store, in the 1200 block of Holland Road, about 11:50 a.m. and robbed two clerks.

Thompson was charged Wednesday with armed robbery, abduction and two counts of using a firearm during a felony in connection with a robbery of a truck driver at Southern Food Store in the 1500 block of Holland Road.

Police said a gunman walked up to the driver, who was making a telephone call outside the convenience store, about 9:15 p.m. Sept. 11 and demanded his wallet. Upset with the amount of money in the wallet, he slapped the man, police said.

Thompson is being held in Western Tidewater Regional Jail without bond. KEYWORDS: ROBBERY

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