MORGANTON, N.C. -- Dollar General is one of the six places Gary Church is accused of robbing in Morganton. Days later he is behind bars.

  • Gary Church faces multiple charges
  • He was arrested after a standoff that caused several businesses to be on lockdown
  • One clerk grabbed a bat and went after the suspect

He hit the store early Monday morning just minutes before heading down the road to another spot where that clerk took out her bat.

Asheville police arrested the 42 year old after a three-hour long standoff that caused multiple businesses in the Biltmore Village to be on lockdown. He was wanted for several robberies in Asheville, Statesville and Morganton.

Shocking surveillance video taken at the Tobacco Barn in Morganton shows what happened inside the store. The clerk says Church purchased $5 worth of gas and then a pack of gum.

"I punched it open to give him his change and that's when he come across the counter and said ‘I'll take it all'," store manager Trish Carpenter said.

However, she wasn't allowing him to have it all, fighting back the entire time.

"Just trying to grab hold of him and keep pulling at him trying to get him to where he couldn't grab anymore," she said.

Church then ran from the store, but it wasn't before the clerk grabbed a bat that she says they keep there all the time. When she made it outside, he had got in his truck and took off. She says Church was only able to get away with a few dollars.

He is facing multiple charges including fleeing arrest with a motor vehicle in Asheville.

Get the latest news, sports and weather delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts.