Armed robbery suspect tries to blend in with Sunday school class

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? An armed robbery suspect who led police on a car chase was arrested after trying to blend in with a Sunday school class eating breakfast in a Knoxville church.

Knoxville police say Lewis Thompson, 19, robbed a convenience store around 6:30 a.m. Sunday and about four hours later was spotted by officers, who then ran after him.

Thompson managed to get into a car and drive off, though during the ensuing chase he disabled the vehicle by hitting some concrete posts, Knoxville Police Lt. Eve Thomas told The Knoxville News Sentinel.

He parked the car and then ran to the Broadway Baptist Church, where he tried to blend in with a group of people being served a meal.

“He was just sitting there eating a banana when the officers apprehended him,” Thomas said.

“It was just a Sunday school class having a breakfast because it was the Sunday before Christmas,” Pastor Tim Turley said after the incident.

Thompson was charged with aggravated robbery, robbery, fleeing, evading arrest, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, Thomas said.

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Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com