Man being held on charge of robbing Payless shoe store attempts escape

A Cape Girardeau man being held on a first-degree robbery charge reportedly made a bold attempt to escape police Friday evening during transport to the Cape Girardeau County Jail.

Gregory D. Williams, 32, of 321 Albert St., was shackled and handcuffed in the front seat of a Cape Girardeau police squad car at about 4:25 p.m. when he unbuckled his seat belt, turned and opened the car door and rolled out of the vehicle at 870 N. Kingshighway, said Cpl. Jason Selzer.

"The vehicle was going at a slow rate of speed," Selzer said. "The officer stopped the vehicle, got out and attempted to subdue Williams."

Selzer said someone made a 911 call that an officer was struggling with a prisoner.

"He didn't get far at all," Selzer said. "And was held there until officers arrived."

Two female prisoners were handcuffed, shackled and belted in the back seat of the cruiser, he said.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Williams is accused of robbing the Payless Shoe Source, 3437 William St., Feb. 3 after tying up the store manager and threatening her with a gun.

He is a suspect in two other Cape Girardeau armed robberies.