WFPD Bags BBQ Belt Bandits

Shawn Hankins

Michael Lewis

Today at approximately 10:00 am officers with the Wichita Falls Police Department were dispatched to the 1200 block of 13^th to Prine’s BBQ in reference to a possible aggravated robbery.

Upon arrival they spoke with the victim who stated that a white male wearing a grey hooded sweater with tattoos on his neck came into the business and displayed what he believed to be a handgun and demanded money.  The victim advised that they did not have any to give him.  The suspect then fled the scene on foot with another white male who was described as wearing a green jacket.

A witness told officers that two males matching the description of the suspects were seen running into a vacant house near 13^th and Burnett. Officers responded to an address in the 1300 block of Burnett and located two subjects matching the suspect descriptions.  One of the subjects who was identified as 39 Year old Shawn Hankins told officers, “I tried to rob Prine’s.”  The second suspect was identified as 44 year old Michael Lewis.  Hankins stated to police that he had rolled up a belt and placed it in his waist band to appear as if it were a handgun.

Both subjects were arrested and transported to the Wichita County jail without incident where they were charged with aggravated robbery and criminal trespass.