Paroled prisoner arrested in robberies
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Kamorrow Colbert, 21, was arrested in connection with the armed robbery of Burkehaven Corner Store following an anonymous tip. Police also believe Colbert was involved in the armed robbery of Taylor's Barbeque.

A twice-convicted burglar had been out of prison for two days when he allegedly robbed Taylor's Barbecue at gunpoint.

Kamorrow Colbert, 21, was arrested around 1:30 a.m. last Friday, several hours after police learned that Burkehaven Corner Store had also been robbed.

According to Waynesboro police investigator Bobbie Jockel, an anonymous tip about the Burkehaven robbery led officers to the Pecan Grove subdivision where Colbert was inside a car with three Waynesboro teens.

All of them bailed when police pulled up, but the teens were caught and detained.

The driver of the car, 18-yearold Kiran Dukes, was charged with driving while unlicensed, and the other two were questioned and later released.

They told investigators that a barefooted Colbert had come to their Borough Court residence and changed into borrowed clothes.

The pants and gray hooded sweatshirt seen in the convenience store's security footage were found inside the home, and Colbert's shoes were found in the polycart outside.

"Apparently, he was giving out money like candy," Jockel said, noting that a portion of Burkehaven's stolen cash was recovered.

Colbert was arrested at his grandmother's Waynesboro home last Friday morning and charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and willfully obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer.

Investigator Jockel said police connected the Dec. 6 armed robbery to the Nov. 30 one at Taylor's Barbecue, based on a blue bandana the gunman wore during both hold-ups.

Yesterday (Tuesday), restaurant employees identified Colbert in a line-up, and he was charged with that armed robbery as well.

Police are still looking for an accomplice.

According to Investigator Jockel, Colbert is also the prime suspect in a recent burglary at Farm Bureau Insurance.

The office, which is just twotenths of a mile from Burkehaven Corner Store, was broken into during the same time period that the store was robbed.

A shoeprint matching Colbert's discarded Reeboks was found on a door that was kicked in.

Charges in that case are still pending.

According to Georgia Department of Correction records, Colbert was released from prison Nov. 28 after serving three and a half years of a collective 17-year sentence. He was serving time for 2003 and 2004 burglaries in Richmond and Burke counties.