Man denied cigarettes charged with armed robbery

Gulfport Police have charged a man with armed robbery after he was denied sale of cigarettes.

Police arrested 25-year-old Anival Avila and charged him with armed robbery. He was taken to the Harrison County jail and held on $100,000 bond.

According to police reports, Avila went to Chevron station in the 1100 block of Pass Road about 9 p.m. to buy cigarettes. He was told he could not buy them because he did not having identification proving he was of age.

Avila became argumentative and pulled a knife from his pocket, grabbed the victim by the collar and held the knife to the victim’s abdomen. He then walked behind the counter and took cigarettes and four bottles of beer before leaving the store.

He was found outside the business and arrested.