Ahomeless Rome man, Thomas Ray Tate, 45, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, 15 to serve, after pleading guilty to armed robbery this week. Reports said that Tate threatened a clerk at the CVS on Maple Road with a knife before running away with a bottle of shampoo and $235 in cash.
Reports said that Tate walked to the counter with a bottle of Head and Shoulders shampoo before taking a knife from his pocket, grabbing the clerk and holding the knife against her.
Once the clerk gave Tate the money he fled toward Flannery and 18th Street before being spotted by a police officer.
Reports added that Tate refused to put his arms around his back, and in the process stuck the officer in the arms and chest. During the scuffle, the officer lost his handcuffs and Tate broke free and ran. The officer then used his taser to subdue Tate.
During a search of the suspect officers found the knife, $235 and a glass cylinder with suspected cocaine.
Tate pleaded guilty to robbery, aggravated assault, obstruction of officers, possession of cocaine and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.
