By Karen Daily
An Augusta man wanted for armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and criminal attempted rape kept local law enforcement at bay for more than an hour Friday after walking out on the train trestle connecting Richmond and Aiken counties to evade arrest, officials said.
Yearby Forston surrendered more than an hour after the stand off began, officials said.
Around 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Richmond County deputies responded to an insurance company in Augusta where a robbery was reported.
Once there, deputies met with a woman who said the suspect had assaulted her.
She said the man pistol whipped her a number of times.
She said Forston then forced her onto the ground at gunpoint and told her to take off her pants, deputies said.
She refused, deputies added.
Forston then reportedly struck her on the head several more times, while she was on the floor.
He is accused of taking a laptop from the business and left in a 1999 Burgundy Ford Explorer.
Around 11 a.m. Friday, the suspect reportedly contacted the Sheriff's Office to surrender at the bridge.
North Augusta Public Safety Lt. Tim Thornton said officers from South Carolina responded to assist.
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office sent its airplane, and North Augusta police responded with snipers.
The officers later learned the man was unarmed during the standoff.
Investigators said the man called former Sheriff's Office sergeant and current Richmond County School Safety Lt. Richard Roundtree to facilitate his surrender, but the suspect did not surrender after Roundtree attempted to provide him help.
Roundtree is a candidate for Richmond County sheriff.![]()
An Augusta man wanted for armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and criminal attempted rape kept local law enforcement at bay for more than an hour Friday after walking out on the train trestle connecting Richmond and Aiken counties to evade arrest, officials said.
Yearby Forston surrendered more than an hour after the stand off began, officials said.
Around 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Richmond County deputies responded to an insurance company in Augusta where a robbery was reported.
Once there, deputies met with a woman who said the suspect had assaulted her.
She said the man pistol whipped her a number of times.
She said Forston then forced her onto the ground at gunpoint and told her to take off her pants, deputies said.
She refused, deputies added.
Forston then reportedly struck her on the head several more times, while she was on the floor.
He is accused of taking a laptop from the business and left in a 1999 Burgundy Ford Explorer.
Around 11 a.m. Friday, the suspect reportedly contacted the Sheriff's Office to surrender at the bridge.
North Augusta Public Safety Lt. Tim Thornton said officers from South Carolina responded to assist.
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office sent its airplane, and North Augusta police responded with snipers.
The officers later learned the man was unarmed during the standoff.
Investigators said the man called former Sheriff's Office sergeant and current Richmond County School Safety Lt. Richard Roundtree to facilitate his surrender, but the suspect did not surrender after Roundtree attempted to provide him help.
Roundtree is a candidate for Richmond County sheriff.