Mason Co. robbery may be related to Muskegon Co. robbery.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. 

BRANCH TWP. — Investigators from Michigan State Police are trying to determine if a Saturday night armed robbery at a northeastern Muskegon County store and Friday night’s armed robbery in Branch are related.

Det. Lt. David Johnson of the MSP Hart post said the Bailey Grocery Store, located just south of the Newaygo County line, was robbed Saturday. That case is being handled by the Grand Haven detachment of the MSP.

The Branch Grocery Store was robbed by a male subject with a handgun Friday about 6 p.m. There were two employees working at the time, but neither was injured. The man escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. He is described as being  approximately 6-feet tall with a medium build and was wearing a grey zip-up style hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, worn low around the waist. The two store clerks indicated the suspect had something covering his face, possibly nylons.

Branch Grocery is located at 9455 E. U.S. 10, just west of the Mason-Lake counties line. The suspect ordered the employees to the ground after forcing them to open the cash register, a state police press release stated. The suspect left the store on foot, entered an unknown vehicle and left west on U.S. 10. It was originally reported by the police that he left east. No one was injured during the robbery.

Johnson said he expects to release video of the robbery on Tuesday.

If you have information about this crime, you are asked to contact Johnson at (231) 873-2171.

In addition to the state police, sheriff’s deputies from Mason and Lake counties also responded.

Branch Grocery is owned by Joe and Teri Negele. The Negeles were not working in the store at the time of the robbery.