Pastor pulls gun, stops robbery at Evansville business

Published: Oct. 20, 2013 at 10:30 PM CDT|Updated: Oct. 27, 2013 at 8:29 PM CDT
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Pastor Carl Sanders
Pastor Carl Sanders
Jermaine Dewayne Marshall, 25. (Source: Vanderburgh County Jail)
Jermaine Dewayne Marshall, 25. (Source: Vanderburgh County Jail)

A man trying to rob a clerk at an Evansville Dollar General store got a little "divine intervention" he wasn't expecting.

Pastor Carl Sanders says he only wanted to buy a Gatorade when he stopped at the store, Friday night.

When he got inside he witnessed a man trying to rob a store clerk with what appeared to be a gun wrapped in plastic.

"He was coming at me saying, 'get on the ground,'" said Sanders. "But I couldn't see what he had... That's when I pulled my weapon and say, 'No, you get on the ground.'"

Sanders says he told the suspect to put his face on the ground and not to look at him.

"I just told him this is out of love," said Sanders.

He stood over the suspect until police arrived.

Many are calling him a hero, but Pastor Sanders says he was simply in the right place at the right time. He says he was doing what he had to do.

"He didn't deserve to be hurt," said Sanders. "I wanted him to know you can't do this."

Authorities took the man, named Jermaine Marshall into custody.

The weapon Marshall appeared to be holding turned out to be a plastic spoon.

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