Man Used Newspaper to Rob Missoula Zip Trip of Beer and Cash, Suspect Captured

Missoula Police have captured a suspect in a robbery that occurred on Saturday, December 13 at a Zip Trip convenience store in Missoula. The criminal escaped the scene with an undisclosed amount of money and some beer.

"At about 10:30, officers responded to a panic alarm at a Zip-Trip at the 1500 block of Toole Avenue," said Missoula Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh. "An employee of the store reported to the responding officer that a robbery had just occurred. He provided a description of the suspect and determined that cash and alcohol had been taken by the suspect."

The man reportedly threatened the clerk with a weapon, but the "weapon" turned out to be something else entirely.

"He entered the store with one hand in his pocket and indicated that he had a weapon and made a threat to the clerk if he didn't comply with his demands. Since the arrest, it has been determined that he didn't have a weapon of any kind, he actually just had a rolled up newspaper in his pocket."

52-year old Mark Sellers was nabbed by police after an officer recognized the man on a surveillance video captured at the convenience store. He is expected to face charges this afternoon, December 15.