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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

BIRMINGHAM – The suspect behind the armed robbery of the Marathon gas station in Calera as well as numerous other crimes has been arrested by the Birmingham Police Department.

Raymond Elston Harris Jr, age 30 of Irondale, has been arrested by the Birmingham PD and is currently held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond.

On Feb. 5, a masked gunman entered the 310 marathon gas station as approximately 6:40 p.m. The suspect robbed the attendant at gunpoint and took the money from the register before leaving in a dark-colored SUV. Harris was been identified by the Calera Police Department as the suspect in the robbery and has been formally charged.

“I want to thank Birmingham PD Robbery detectives and street crime unit for their work with us on this investigation,” Calera Chief of Police David Hyche said. “ATF and the U.S. attorney’s office, the Jefferson County District attorney’s office and the Shelby County District attorney’s office are now working with Calera and Birmingham PD on prosecution of this suspect.”

Harris was arrested on Feb. 13 by the Birmingham PD following a pursuit in which Harris allegedly struck a patrol vehicle, robbed a citizen and crashed into two other vehicles causing injuries. Harris was apprehended at Avenue R and 32nd Street Ensley in Birmingham. Harris faces federal and state charges related to several previous alleged crimes.

Harris is currently charged with the following:

• Certain persons forbidden to possess pistol
• Criminal mischief in the third degree
• Criminal mischief in the third degree
• Robbery in the first degree
• Robbery in the first degree
• Robbery in the first degree
• Certain persons forbidden to possess firearm
• Aggravated assault – attempted murder
• Attempting to elude a police officer
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Criminal mischief second degree
• Robbery in the third degree
• Discharge of firearm into an occupied dwelling or vehicle
• Discharge of firearm into an occupied dwelling or vehicle

“This investigation demonstrates what can and should be done when law enforcement and prosecutors work together across jurisdictional lines to bring a violent criminal to justice,” Hyche said. “Violent criminals pay no attention to jurisdictional boundaries when they offend.  We don’t either when we go after them.  The next step, which is equally if not more important is appropriate prosecution and sentencing to protect the public.”