Police arrest two suspects in armed Dollar General robbery, link them to others

A Dollar General worker in Lynn Haven faced the kind of threat retail crews dread most when a suspect walked into the store at 4629 Highway 390 near East Avenue, displayed a firearm and demanded money before fleeing. Police say the case ended with two arrests, but for store employees the more immediate lesson is what to do in the seconds before officers arrive and what to expect after a robbery is over.

The Lynn Haven Police Department responded Tuesday, April 28, 2026, and quickly gathered suspect information, issued a BOLO and set up a perimeter. The first suspect was detained after a traffic stop. The second was found hiding under a shed in the Cason Circle area after running through nearby yards, a reminder that armed robberies at discount stores can spill into surrounding neighborhoods within minutes and pull multiple agencies into the search.

Officers recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the robbery, along with a Dollar General bag and stolen money. Police identified the suspects as 19-year-old Brian David Myrick, who was charged with armed robbery, and 17-year-old David Jeremiah Smith, who was charged with principal to armed robbery and traffic-related offenses. Myrick and Smith were taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Bay County jail as appropriate.

For store associates, the practical takeaway is clear: if someone shows a gun and demands money, the priority is compliance, distance and speed of exit once the suspect leaves. Do not chase a suspect, do not try to recover merchandise or cash, and get to a secure place before making a detailed report. The most useful information for investigators is often what workers can remember after the scene is safe, including clothing, direction of travel, vehicle details and whether anyone was hurt.

The case may not be limited to one store. Panama City police said the pair were also connected to two other recent Dollar General robberies in the area, one in Panama City and one in Springfield. Bay County Sheriff’s Office BAYROC Unit was continuing the investigation, and additional charges could follow. For workers in stores that already operate under tight staffing and thin margins, the quick arrests may bring short-term relief, but they do not change the reality that armed robbery remains a day-to-day risk in discount retail.

Dollar General, founded in 1939 and headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, reported 20,594 stores as of Jan. 31, 2025, underscoring how a single violent incident in Bay County fits into a much larger chainwide exposure. When the next alarm sounds, the difference between chaos and control is often how quickly the store team gets to safety and how thoroughly the incident is reported afterward.