LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A Myrtle Beach man was arrested Thursday in connection with an armed robbery of a taxi driver in Lexington County, according to deputies.
Blake Austin McGrath, 19, is accused of robbing a taxi driver at a convenience store on South Lake Drive in Lexington, deputies said. Investigators said McGrath pulled a gun on the cab driver and and ordered him to take him to Myrtle Beach.
The cab driver was able to get away safely after he pulled into a convenience store parking lot, according to deputies.
McGrath was charged Friday morning with armed robbery, kidnapping and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to arrest warrants.
“Based on information we gathered at the scene, McGrath booked the taxi for a ride home to Myrtle Beach,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “He was picked up at a store, and as the cab drove toward Interstate 20, he pulled a gun and told the driver to not ‘do anything stupid’ or he would shoot him.”
McGrath is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center.
“McGrath ran away from the cab and someone called 911,” Koon said. “We set up a perimeter and arrested McGrath a short time later after we found him hiding in a nearby store’s restroom. Fortunately, nobody was hurt during the incident.”
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