Area law enforcement officers were forced to earn their pay starting early Labor Day morning, when the Sonic Drive-in restaurant and a Washington County store were both robbed at gunpoint, resulting in a high-speed chase from Jackson to Mt. Vernon.

According to Jackson Police Chief Charles Burge, Fulton Holmes Jr., 21, of Mt. Vernon is charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the incident at Sonic and faces other charges in Washington County as well.

Burge said around 7:15 a.m., Monday, Sept. 1, the Washington County Sheriff's office notified his department of an attempted robbery at Harris Grocery in Wagarville and that the suspect was northbound on U.S. Highway 43 in a red vehicle. Jackson Police Sgt. Josh Garrett set up on the Clarke County side of the Tombigbee River bridge.

Officer Ben Marshall was headed to the intersection of Highway 43 and Ocre Avenue, when the department received a call around 7:24 a.m. that the Sonic had been robbed. Officer Marshall turned onto Ocre Avenue and observed a red automobile occupied by a white male. The car and driver fit the description provided to police by Sonic employees.

Chief Burge said Holmes is accused of entering the Sonic, with a gun and demanding money. "One clerk asked the suspect to stop waving his gun around and also inquired if she could finish waiting on a customer at the drive-up window. Holmes reportedly agreed and when the clerk handed the customer his order she told him they were being robbed and to call the police. The customer did what the clerk asked and Jackson Police responded.

In the meantime, a second Sonic clerk said he would get the robber his money and called police when he went to the back of the building. Holmes apparently became apprehensive and left before obtaining any money, fleeing in his 2008 red Toyota Corolla down Ocre Avenue toward Highway 43. That's when he was met by Officer Marshall who pursued.

With speeds reaching approximately 100 mph, the Washington County Sheriff and McIntosh Police departments were notified.

The chase continued to Mt. Vernon, where Holmes turned onto Weaver Road. That portion of the chase ended when Holmes reached the dead end of Weaver Road.

He then fled on foot, but officers found him hiding in the attic of the family house and placed him under arrest.