Robbery suspect disguised as nurse is jailed, but wig-wearing companion’s on the loose

A search was underway Monday for an armed suspect who disguised himself as a woman and along with another suspect tied up employees in a holdup at a Family Dollar in east Fort Worth on Saturday night.

Initially, police said both suspects were in custody, but at a news conference Monday police officials said they were still searching for the second suspect.

Det. Brian Raynsford said that another man was jailed shortly after the holdup, but on unrelated charges.

One of the two robbery suspects was arrested soon after the incident Saturday night.

Police said Monday that the pair dressed up as women — one as a nurse and the other wearing a long wig.

“It was a disguise to throw off the investigation,” Raynsford said. “It is unique.”

Police released store surveillance video of the two suspects on Monday.

Raynsford said authorities are searching for the suspect in the video who was carrying a purse and wearing a paisley shirt, pants and a long wig.

The robbery detective asked residents to pay close attention to the suspect’s movements and mannerisms in hopes that someone will recognize him.

A 19-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man, both store employees, were tied up just after the robbers entered the store.

Jail records identified the suspect arrested in the case as Cedric Lamont Sanders of Fort Worth. He was booked into the Fort Worth Jail early Sunday and faces a charge of aggravated robbery.

Raynsford said Sanders had a criminal history in Louisiana. He was on parole there for robbery, battering and receiving stolen property, he said.

Sanders was identified as the suspect disguised as a nurse, wearing a large wig, makeup and eye shadow. He even wore a bra stuffed with socks and T-shirts, police said.

The holdup call was made to police shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday by someone in the store.

The robbers had entered the store at 7341 John T. White Road and pretended to be shoppers. Then they brandished weapons, Sgt. Chris Britt said at the news conference.

“They took all employees, placed them on the floor and took money from the register and safe,” Britt said. They also took an “untold amount of cigarettes.”

Britt said the employees were tied up.

About the time officers arrived, one of the suspects fled.

Police reviewed store surveillance video and noted that the second suspect never left the business. A few minutes later, SWAT members and K-9 units arrived, and officers searched the store, finding the second suspect hiding under some merchandise, police said.

Anyone with information about the robbery should call police at 817-392-4469.

This story was originally published July 30, 2018 at 9:31 AM with the headline "Robbery suspect disguised as nurse is jailed, but wig-wearing companion’s on the loose."