Forklift driver hampers getaway in strong arm robbery

A West Columbia man accused of stealing a television from a Wal-Mart and assaulting an employee has been arrested.

Suspect George M. Murphy, 33, of Platt Springs Road, is charged with strong arm robbery in connection with a Tuesday night incident in which someone tried to steal a television but was forced to leave the set behind when an employee blocked the getaway truck with a forklift.

According to the West Columbia Police Department, a man matching Murphy's description tried to steal the 26-inch HDTV by taking it out a fire door at the rear of the Walmart at 2401 Augusta Road. The man put the TV in the bed of a pickup truck and assaulted an employee who tried to stop him. A witness driving a forklift saw the incident and blocked the truck with the machine.

The man then fled on foot. West Columbia and Springdale officers searching the area found Murphy near Huntington Drive and arrested him as the suspect.

Murphy is at the Lexington County Detention Center today waiting for a bond hearing.

-- Kelly Davis