Police Arrest Suspect in Two Recent Incidents

TYLER — A man suspected in two recent incidents, including the robbery of an elderly woman, is in custody. Arrested around 11:30 Tuesday morning was Elliott Bernard West Jr., 21. He is charged with aggravated robbery in connection with a robbery at the Tyler Public Library. Around 12:00 noon on Sunday, West allegedly approached the victim, an 82-year-old woman, in the library parking lot. Police say he produced a handgun and demanded to be taken to an unknown location. The victim refused, but was robbed of the cash in her purse.

West allegedly fled the area on foot, reportedly running to Marvin United Methodist Church. Police say he was confronted there by an off-duty Tyler Police Officer working in a security role for the church. West reportedly told the officer he was interested in becoming a member of the church but needed to go to the bathroom first. Investigators say they later learned that West hid the weapon used in the robbery in a church bathroom. The weapon used was determined to be a pellet gun that resembles a real handgun.

On Saturday, July 14th, around 6:30pm, an aggravated assault occurred in the parking lot of a medical office on Hospital Drive. A man approached another man sitting in a vehicle, produced a handgun, and demanded the vehicle. The victim walked away, leaving the keys in the car. The suspect did not take the car but fled the area on foot toward Tyler Junior College. Officers from TJC located and stopped a man matching the suspect’s description and identified that person as West. According to police, further investigation later revealed West to be the suspect in both incidents. An arrest warrant is pending for the aggravated assault charge. West is currently in the Smith County Jail with a $750,000 bond issued by Judge Jack Skeen.