A 38-year-old Salem man was handed three State Department of Correction sentences on Thursday, including one for 13 years for the armed robbery last June of Biggies on Route 161 off I-57. Jarid Walker of North Indiana admitted taking US currency and multiple packs of cigarettes from the store clerk by displaying what appeared to be a revolver.
One three-year prison term was for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer on the same night as the armed robbery. Walker allegedly fled from a Centralia Police officer and violated two or more traffic citations. Police had tried to stop the car because it matched the description of the one involved in the Biggies armed robbery. The chase started on 5th Street in Centralia and ended when Walker missed the t-intersection on US 51 at Route 15 in Ashley.
The other three-year prison term was on a petition to revoke his probation on a prior unlawful possession of controlled substance conviction.
All three prison terms will run concurrently.
Walker had an attempted armed robbery charge dropped as part of the plea. The same day he had been released by a judge on his own recognizance due to problems with the speedy trial rule, he allegedly went to the South Farm Fresh Store with his face covered and implied that he had a gun when demanding money from the cashier. The robbery attempt was unsuccessful. Walker fled in a vehicle and another short chase followed that ended in his arrest.
