One arrested; ‘person of interest’ sought in robbery

Lawrence Police have arrested the suspected lookout man and are looking for a second “person of interest” in an armed robbery last night at a convenience store near 23rd and Iowa Streets.Marcus J. Bell, 20, was booked into jail about 2 a.m. today for aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. Police said they believe he served as the lookout in a robbery about 9 p.m. Thursday at Presto Convenience Store, 2330 Iowa.Bell lists a nearby address in the 2100 block of West 26th Street. Police arrested him after receiving a tip about 9:30 p.m. on the anonymous CrimeStoppers hotline.Police are still looking for Lawrence resident Darnell Thomas, 20, but they stopped short of calling him a suspect this morning.”He’s a person that we’d like to talk to,” LPD spokeswoman Kim Murphree said.A store clerk said that a man with what appeared to be a single-barrel pump shotgun stormed into the store and began to scream and curse. The only customer inside followed orders and dropped to the ground.With the gun near his face, Downing emptied the register and placed the cash onto the counter.Other police-related news today:¢Death ruled suicide:The death of a 40-year-old Olathe woman found dead April 30 in a burned-out car near Rock Creek Boat Ramp at Clinton Lake has officially been ruled a suicide. The Douglas County Sheriff’s office made that notification Thursday to Carolyn A. Bower’s family, following the completion of an autopsy report. Coroner Erik Mitchell had previously said it would be unlikely if her death were ruled foul play.¢Beer-bottle battery: Police arrested 24-year-old Taylor Jay Pratt of Lawrence early this morning on suspicion of hitting a 20-year-old Kansas University student in the head with a beer bottle around 11:10 p.m. Thursday night at the Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W. Sixth St.¢Home burglary: 1500 block of Kentucky: Nearly $3,000 in property, including a Dell computer, flat-screen TV, DVD player, two watches and a gold chain, were stolen in a forced-entry burglary between 4 p.m. Aug. 15 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.-contributed by Eric Weslander.