Frank Lewis | Daily Times

Portsmouth police officers process the vehicle they say was involved in the robbery of the Portsmouth Kroger store minutes before. The stop and arrests were made at Eighth and Washington streets in Portsmouth.

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Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

A Columbus man and woman may have taken Kroger’s slogan, “More value for the way you live,” a little more literally than the grocery chain intended.

Quick work by Portsmouth Police officer Jason Hedrick ensured that any value found at the Portsmouth Kroger location was legally obtained. Hedrick arrested two people that were accused of robbing the Kroger store on Gay Street.

“We got a call that there was an aggravated robbery in progress,” Lt. Bruce Barney of the Portsmouth Police Department said. “Hedrick was coming southbound on Chillicothe Street, and a description went out on the guy. He saw a guy matching the description come running across the street, and get into a car. They started to drive off. He stopped the car here (Eighth and Washington streets) and recovered the note the guy used, the Kroger bag, the wig he was wearing.”

Barney said the suspect was taken back to the site of the robbery for positive identification.

“Three of our witnesses back there, definitely, without any question, I.D.’d him as the guy,” Barney said. “And one of them said the clothing matched.”

The man police said robbed the store is Justin C. Mullins, 28. The woman driving the getaway car was identified as Jessica Mullins, 23, both of 348 Old Village Road, Columbus. Barney said both would be charged with aggravated robbery.

Portsmouth Police officer Steve Timberlake was at the scene where he was processing the vehicle, taking photos and collecting more evidence.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com.