Pinellas Park police say the suspect’s gun fired when customers and employees struggled with the man.

PINELLAS PARK – Police say it happened this way: Shortly after 1 p.m., the Pinellas Park Police Department received a 911 call in reference to a robbery at the Aldi grocery store, 6700 66th St. N. It was relayed to the dispatchers that the suspect was armed with a handgun and that at least one shot was fired.

Officers were on the scene of the incident within several minutes and took the suspect, Todd Jay Mills, 46, of St. Petersburg into custody.

Mills entered the store and selected an item from the shelf. He then stood in line for several minutes until it was his turn to check out, police say. As the clerk started to wait on Mills, police say he came around the line to where the cashier was positioned, produced a handgun and demanded money from the cash drawer.

Employees and customers observed what was taking place and struggled with Mills. During the struggle, the gun fell from his hands. When another customer attempted to retrieve the handgun to keep it from the suspect the firearm discharged. No one was hit and no one was injured, according to police.

Mills was arrested and charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm. For information, see facebook.com/pinellasparkpolice.

Pinellas Park | Pinellas Park Police | Crime | Local News