SPARTA, Ill. (WSIL) -- A man is in jail in connection to an armed robbery investigation in Sparta.
The Sparta Police Department said they received a 911 call on March 4, at 12:24 p.m., about an armed robbery incident at Lollie's Restaurant at 1775 N. Market Street in Sparta.
Police said victims were employees with Accel Entertainment who maintain gambling machines at this business. Those employees described suspect information to police. Authorities said the 911 caller described the suspect had a green cloth over his hand and told a person to put up their hands or he would shoot.
Police said this took place in the parking lot of the restaurant. Officers quickly set up a perimeter and started searching for a suspect, using a K9 officer and a drone.
Deputies with the Randolph County Sheriff's Office also collected surveillance video and tracked the suspect to a Ford F150 at the Melmar Apartments parking lot.
Sparta police said the suspect was identified as William Lawless, 66 of Sparta, and was later found at his home in Sparta and taken into custody. Officers also searched his property and said they found evidence.
Lawless was cited with an Armed Robbery charge and taken to the Randolph County Jail.
