Suspect Charged in Aggravated Robbery of Taxi Driver

    A 19-year-old Wichita Falls man is behind bars this afternoon in connection with an armed robbery that occurred overnight.
    So far, Sergeant John Spragins with the Wichita Falls Police Department says Russell Dale Patterson is charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault on a public servant.
    Spragins says around one this morning in the 16-hundred block of Lucille, Patterson threatened a Skylark taxi driver with a gun and demanded money.
    The driver was not harmed.
    And no money was taken.
    While police were investigating that crime, they were called out to the Central Freeway Walmart where employees reported a man was trying to steal a machete and a CO2 B.B. gun from the store.
    Spragins say that man was Patterson and officers found him in the parking lot with a machete.
    Then Patterson reportedly threatened a police officer with the knife.
    Spragins says thanks to witness reports, surveillance video, and quick action by police, officers were able to tie Patterson to all these crimes.
    He's being held in the Wichita County Jail.
    Bond has not yet been set.