NATCHEZ — A Natchez man was arrested early Friday morning shortly after reportedly robbing a gas station, making it the third store robbed this week.

Natchez Police Department Lt. Kenneth Stampley said Christopher Wimberly, 35, 1018 Martins Lane, reportedly entered the Morgantown Exxon on U.S. 61 North shortly after 2 a.m., demanded cash and fled.

Stampley said the clerk reported that it appeared Wimberly was brandishing a gun, but Stampley said security footage indicates he might have been pretending to have a gun and was likely not armed.

Wimberly was apprehended shortly after the robbery after a K9 dog tracked him through a wooded area and found him hiding near a church on T. Waring Bennett Jr. Road.

The Morgantown Exxon is the third gas station this week to be robbed and was robbed just a few hours after Kaiser’s Food and Fuel on U.S. 61 South was robbed Thursday night.

Kaiser’s Mobil Mart on U.S. 61 North was robbed Tuesday. A masked gunman who appeared to be black on security camera footage reportedly robbed both Kaiser’s locations.

Stampley said security footage has eliminated Wimberly as a suspect in the two other robberies.

Anyone with information about the robberies should contact Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000.

Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Calls are anonymous.