Cordele — Investigation of an armed robbery, several thefts and altercations made for a busy Labor Day weekend for Cordele Police Department officers.

A Blue Springs Drive resident told Cpl. Bruce Gourley just after midnight Sunday that while walking home from an apartment complex an unknown black male approached him from behind and pulled a pistol on him.

The complainant said the robber then took his cell phone and approximately $800 in cash. Police searched the area for evidence related to the crime or any suspects matching the description given by the victim but located neither.

A resident of the 300 block of 11th Ave. E. told Sgt. Charles Dennard that sometime between 6 a.m. Friday and the same time on Saturday someone stole a Poulan brand weedeater and two Zebco fishing rods from the front porch of her home.

A local realtor told Ptl. Kyle Barfield that while she was showing a house in the 700 block of Fourth Ave. E. just before 3 p.m. Sunday someone stole her purse from her car.

When a search of the area for the purse or the person stealing it proved unsuccessful, the complainant was advised to cancel her credit cards and checks.

A resident of the 700 block of Hickory St. N. told Sgt. Charles Hill just before 10 a.m. Monday that someone had stolen a 42-inch Poulan riding lawn mower from a shop area behind his residence. The missing mower that had no battery and a newly-installed carburetor is valued at $700.

An employee of the Sunoco station on 16th Ave. E. complained to Sgt. Robert Montgomery just after 3:30 p.m. Monday that the driver of a black SUV drove away without making payment for $61.26 of gasoline pumped into the vehicle and left headed east on 16th Avenue. The vehicle could not be located.

Altercations meanwhile resulted in the arrests of four local residents for cruelty to children.

Sgt. Wayne Hubbard made the first case against Demetria Lashon Oliver, 30, of 611 11th Ave. W., after she refused to allow her juvenile son to return to their residence even after she was told he had no place to go.

Both mother and son as well as several other individuals had been involved in a Monday afternoon altercation in the 100 block of 13th St. S.

Lt. Carrie Lull made a second case against Taon Nikil “Tink” Williams, 34, of 615-B 13th Ave. W. after being called to his residence just before 7 p.m. Friday.

The officer was told Williams kicked a door off its hinges in order to enter the residence where the mother of his child said he made threats about throwing their sleeping infant into the wall and then began beating on her.

Lull said the complainant was shaking, her hands were trembling and she was crying while being questioned about the incident. In addition  to the child cruelty charge, Williams, who was still inside the residence, was cited for simple battery and criminal trespass.

Cpl. Gourley said he arrested Fayne Paulette Johnson, 36, of 3736 Lamb Town Rd., Vienna, and Pamela Eroyce Hughes, 36, of 305-A 20th Ave. E., for that offense when they got into a fight at a Ninth St. S. address just before midnight Friday while two children were present.

Upon arrival at the scene, the officer said he was told Hamilton had intentionally stabbed Hughes, her niece, in the forearm and had also damaged the rear passenger window of Hughes’ car. That action led to her also being cited for aggravated assault and criminal trespass.

Hughes also wound up being arrested for battery when she threw a kitchen pot that struck Johnson under her right eye.

In other weekend activity, officers:

— Investigated a hit-and-run accident.

Sgt. Charles Pheil said a Regions Bank employee told him Friday morning that sometime on Thursday her car was struck by an unknown vehicle whose driver failed to stop at the scene or report the accident.

The complainant said it wasn’t until her arrival at home that she observed the passenger side mirror, both passenger side doors and part of the rear tire well were damaged on her car.

— Arrested Albert Betron Dennis, 41, of 416 Seventh Ave. E., on outstanding  probation violation warrants issued by both the city and county.

Ptl. Andrew Roufs said he took Dennis into custody after initially being called to the 600 block of Sixth Ave. E. at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday to investigate a report of a black male wearing all black clothing and holding a machete walking in the area.

Roufs said when he first saw the subject had no machete in his possession. When another officer arrived at the scene as back-up, Roufs reportedly found a machete about 20 feet from where he first saw Dennis walking all alone.

Dennis denied having the machete in his possession and said he was only leaving the apartment of his girlfriend whose name he could not provide.

— Picked up two 12-year-old boys who allegedly broke into the community mailbox at Clara Scott Homes on N. Bass St. just before 1 a.m. Sunday and threw mail inside it to the ground. Ptl. Rosa Brown said the case has been turned over to juvenile authorities.

— Made a shoplifting case against Christopher Wendell Hall, 19, of 2062 N. Hwy. 257, after employees of Auto Zone told Ptl. Barfield he had tried to steal some LED lights valued at $9.99.

When confronted outside the store, Hall reported gave the item back to an employee and left in his vehicle. A search of the area proved futile, but subsequent investigation led to Hall being named as the alleged offender.

— Looked into several vandalism complaints.

A resident of the 800 block of Fifth St. S. told Sgt. Pheil shortly after 5:30 a.m. Tuesday that he had just discovered damage done to his car earlier in the morning.

The complainant said he heard dogs barking loudly outside his home just before 2 a.m. but failed to investigate. When he did arise, he said he found deep scratches had been made on the hood, both sides and rear of his vehicle.

A Holsey Cobb Village resident told Lt. Lull early Saturday morning that sometime since 10 p.m. Friday someone deliberately broke a side mirror on her vehicle.

A spokesman for the Church of Christ located at 202 13th St. S. told Sgt.  Pheil just after 10:30 a.m. Saturday that someone had again kicked in the front door to the sanctuary but apparently had not stolen anything.

— Said winds during a Sunday night storm toppled a tree that fell onto the car of a person in attendance at the Agilis House located in the 500 block of 11th Avenue E.

— Responded to an attempted burglary complaint.

The owner of Reeves and Son Barber Shop at 519 24th Ave. W. reported Friday morning that an attempt had been made to burglarize that business during the night.

Actual entry was never made but the back door and door knob were damaged in the attempt to get inside the premises.

— Issued traffic violation tickets to seven persons for assorted violations.