Police Arrest Teen in Downtown Mobile Robberies Committed at Gunpoint

MOBILE, Ala. — An 18-year-old Mobile man was arrested early Sunday in connection with two downtown Mobile robberies committed at gunpoint about an hour apart, according to the Mobile Police Department’s weekend recap, which also detailed a fatal pedestrian crash, two police pursuits, a robbery at the city’s Greyhound bus station and gunfire that struck an occupied home.

Christian Pittman, 18, was taken into custody on Government Street near Barton Academy after officers canvassing the area spotted a man who matched the description of the robbery suspect, police said. He was booked into Mobile County Metro Jail.

Police did not list the specific charges Pittman faces in the weekend summary. An arrest is not a finding of guilt, and Pittman, like everyone named in the recap, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Two Armed Robberies Downtown Before Dawn

The first call came in at about 4:05 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, from the 400 block of Government Street. Officers learned that a man they did not know approached a vehicle in a parking lot and robbed three people of their personal belongings at gunpoint, according to MPD.

Roughly 75 minutes later, at about 5:20 a.m., officers were sent to the 400 block of St. Francis Street for what police described as a similar robbery. In that case, a man told officers he was walking home when another man approached him and took his property at gunpoint.

Both locations sit in the heart of downtown Mobile, just a couple of blocks apart. While officers were searching the surrounding streets after the second robbery, they saw a man fitting the suspect’s description walking on Government Street near Barton Academy. Police identified him as Pittman and arrested him.

Police did not say whether any property was recovered or whether a weapon was found. No injuries were reported in either robbery.

What Happens After an Arrest

Alabama law treats armed robbery seriously. Under state law, robbery committed while armed with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument is classified as first-degree robbery, a Class A felony that carries a sentence of 10 to 99 years or life in prison upon conviction. Police have not said which charges were filed against Pittman, however, and the final charges in any case are determined by prosecutors.

After an arrest in Mobile, a defendant is typically booked into Metro Jail, which is operated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and appears before a judge who addresses bond and the appointment of a lawyer if needed. Felony cases generally move through Mobile County District Court for preliminary proceedings before being presented to a grand jury, which decides whether there is enough evidence to issue an indictment. Cases that are indicted proceed to Mobile County Circuit Court.

Robbery at Greyhound Bus Station

The weekend’s robbery calls began even earlier on Sunday. At about 1:03 a.m., officers responded to the Greyhound bus station at 2545 Government Street. Police said a man pushed another man to the ground and stole his bus ticket and personal property.

The suspect was still at the station when officers arrived. Derick Flores, 19, was arrested and taken to Metro Jail.

Fatal Pedestrian Crash and Two Pursuits

The recap also included a deadly crash on Friday evening, Oct. 16. At about 5:06 p.m., officers were called to a report of a pedestrian struck on the ramp from westbound Interstate 10 to northbound Interstate 65. They found a man dead at the scene. Investigators determined that a vehicle traveling north on I-65 hit him as he was trying to cross the roadway. Police said his next of kin were still being notified, and his name was not released.

Later Friday, at about 9:11 p.m., officers tried to stop a vehicle on Halls Mill Road, but the driver would not pull over, police said. The driver eventually stopped near the intersection of Spring Hill Avenue and Broad Street, where he was detained. Cornelius Dubose, 19, was arrested and taken to Metro Jail.

Early Sunday, at about 1:49 a.m., officers attempted a traffic stop near Airport Boulevard and Cody Road. The driver again refused to stop, according to police, and a short chase followed. It ended when the driver turned into an apartment complex at 7070 Grelot Road. Lebarion Harshaw, 42, was arrested and booked into Metro Jail.

About two hours later, at 4:04 a.m. Sunday, officers in the area of the 1600 block of St. Stephens Road saw a vehicle leave the scene of a crash, police said. Officers followed it until it stopped at Wilson Avenue and West Elm Street. A woman ran from the vehicle but was detained without incident. Taylor Spanks, 29, was arrested and taken to Metro Jail.

Police did not detail the charges in the pursuit cases.

Gunfire Hits Home; Woman Sought in Cutting

Two weekend incidents remain open investigations with no arrests announced:

• Lincoln Street shooting: At about 12:55 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, officers responded to the 1700 block of Lincoln Street after a report of shots fired. They found that gunfire had struck an occupied home and an unoccupied vehicle. No one was hurt.
• Halls Mill Road cutting: At about 11:57 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, officers were called to the 2100 block of Halls Mill Road for a domestic incident. A man had minor cuts and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police said an unknown woman cut him during an argument in a parking lot.

About Barton Academy and the Downtown Area

The arrest near Barton Academy put one of Mobile’s best-known landmarks in the weekend’s police reports. The Greek Revival building on Government Street opened in the 1830s and is widely recognized as Alabama’s first public school building. After an extensive restoration, it reopened as a public magnet school, the Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies, operated by the Mobile County Public School System.

The 400 blocks of Government and St. Francis streets lie in the downtown core, an area of offices, churches, restaurants, bars and residences that sees foot traffic late into the night on weekends, as well as early-morning walkers heading home.

How to Report Information

Anyone with information about the weekend’s incidents, particularly the Lincoln Street shooting and the Halls Mill Road cutting, which remain under investigation, can contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211. Tips can be shared anonymously through Mobile Area Crime Stoppers at 251-208-7000. In an emergency, call 911.

Police generally advise residents who are out late downtown to stay in well-lit areas, walk with others when possible, keep valuables out of sight and, if confronted by an armed robber, comply rather than resist and call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.