MYRTLE BEACH SC July 10 2013 — North Myrtle Beach police charged a 46-year-old North Carolina man in connection with a “prank” armed robbery attempt at a gas station, according to authorities.Michael Glen Riden, 46, of Kannapolis, N.C., was charged with attempted armed robbery and criminal conspiracy and is being held on $25,000 bond after he was jailed at 11:33 a.m. July 6, according to jail records.
North Myrtle Beach police charged Riden after officers were called at 6 a.m. July 6 to Dodge’s Store at 2609 S. U.S. 17 for an armed robbery, according to the report. Officers learned from the clerk that a man came in to purchase gas when another man came in behind him.
The clerk said the second man put a gun to the first man’s head and demanded money from the register or he would shoot the man, according to the report. The clerk said she froze, took a step back from the cash register and yelled for a coworker.
The clerk said the armed man then said it was a joke and left the store, according to the report. The clerk knew the man, who had the gun pointed at him, but he left the store quickly.
Officers tracked down the first man and learned he picked up the armed man, who was Riden, and took him to the store, according to the report. The man said he lied to police initially about having to leave for a doctor’s appointment because he was driving without a license.
Riden told police he got a ride with the man, who said he knew the clerk, and wanted to play a prank on her, according to the report. Riden said the other man, who hasn’t been charged, gave him the BB gun and said they should pretend to rob the store.Riden said he went into the store, pointed the gun at the man’s head and demanded money, but when the incident didn’t go well, he tried to tell everyone it was a joke, according to the report. Riden said he left and walked home.