Bond has been set at $200,000 for a man who allegedly robbed the Shell station on New Smithville Highway last month.
The suspected robber, Bryan J. Bridgman, was bound to the grand jury after a preliminary hearing before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke. He remains held at Warren County Jail.
Bridgman has been behind bars since April 17 when he was collared for the armed heist. Authorities say it was Bridgman who walked into the store wearing a ski mask and brandishing a gun. The robber then demanded the money from the store’s register and fled on foot. Lawmen say he got nearly $11,000 in cash and checks, something which is a huge amount when compared to other convenience store heists.
Bridgman was caught a couple days after the robbery when detectives were discussing the case. It was then an officer learned of an accent and a peculiar voice used by the robber which he recognized. They later listened to  Bridgman’s voice on his parole officer’s answering machine. Bridgman is on federal parole for transporting explosives across state lines.
“It sounds like the same person exactly,” McMinnville police detective Barry Powers said during preliminary hearing.
When police arrived to question him at his girlfriend’s house they were able to recover part of the stolen loot, money he claimed he was holding for his girlfriend.