Robbery suspect arrested

An 18-year-old man is in jail, accused of robbing the Woodland Qwik Stop at about 11 p.m. Thursday.

Jamahl E. Michael was arrested a few hours after the incident when he reportedly told a woman he had robbed the business. She called police.

The Flathead County Sheriff's Office earlier had been called by the convenience store clerk. She said a man in jeans, a navy-blue sweatshirt and a blue mask demanded cash. Although he didn't directly threaten her, the clerk said the man gestured at his waist, where she saw a knife.

"She was fearful," Detective Commander Jeanne Landis said.

She said the man told the clerk, "Give me what you've got," and the clerk responded, "Are you kidding me?"

The robber apologized and said, "Sorry, but I got to feed my family," Landis said.

After receiving some cash, the man fled on foot heading east on Conrad Drive, Landis said.

Sgt. Brad Stahlberg's shift launched an intense search. Dispatchers called businesses that were still open at that hour, warning them about the robber and looking for anything they might have noticed.

"They did absolutely everything" to track down the robber, Landis said.

Hours later, Kalispell police took a call from the woman who identified Michael as the robber and said there was another man involved. The other man was driving a 1995 Ford Explorer that is red with gray stripes on the bottom of the quarter panels.

Michael was arrested at his home at Many Lakes near Creston.

Law officers are looking for the other suspect.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com