Deputy Attacked Outside Kangaroo Express

A Richmond County man who hung around the outside of a convenience store after robbing it Halloween morning was eventually arrested, but only after attacking a sheriff's deputy who responded to the incident, authorities said.

Curtis William Life, 42, allegedly walked into the Kangaroo Express on Wrightsboro Road at 8 a.m. Saturday, leaned over the counter and told the female employee to "give me those cigarettes or else," according to a sheriff's report.

Scared by the intimidating robber, the female clerk ran to a back office and called police. Deputy Larry Thigpen arrived and found Mr. Life sitting on a curb outside the store enjoying a pack of Doral cigarettes, a lighter, a 20-ounce Diet Coke, two King Size Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and a Twix candy bar.

The officer asked the man whether he paid for the items, and the man responded that he had, telling the officer to "f*** off" and that the deputy would have to shoot him. The suspect refused the deputy's order to stand and began cursing and threatening the deputy. The officer sprayed the man with Cap-Stun and then struck the man in the legs with an asp baton when the suspect charged him, a report states.

"The subject then grabbed at the deputy's face, grabbing my eyeglasses and breaking them," Deputy Thigpen wrote in his report.

Deputy Thigpen and another officer wrestled with the suspect, who tried to grab the other officer's weapon. But he was finally handcuffed and was taken to University Hospital to be checked out before being taken to jail.

Mr. Life, who has an address in the Gracewood community, was charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer, taking of an officer's weapon, robbery by intimidation, criminal trespassing and interference with government party.

All the man needed was a costume, and he could have got all that candy for free Saturday night.