Tyler Robbery Suspect in Custody

TYLER — What started out as a shoplifting case has turned into a Tyler robbery. It happened around 1:30 Wednesday afternoon at the Wal-Mart at 6801 South Broadway. Loss Prevention Officers from the store reported they had confronted a man attempting to steal two air conditioning units. As they tried to detain the suspect, he is said to have hit one of the loss prevention officers with his fists. The suspect then fled the scene before Tyler police arrived.

After information on the suspect’s description and direction of travel was relayed, a man matching the description was found near the intersection of Broadway and Barbee. As officers tried to detain him, he fled on foot. He ran east into a wooded area and then into a creek and attempted to swim away. Two officers ran into the creek and took the suspect into custody. He was identified as Lionel Joseph Simmons, 29, of Tyler. Simmons was booked into the Smith County Jail for robbery, evading arrest, and a parole violation warrant.