Alleged robber released from hospital

By Staff
The man shot by Hartselle Police last week after he allegedly tried to rob Hometown Groceries has been released from the hospital and is being held on $1 million bond.
Larry Dean Maples, 48, of 38 Jenkins Court, is charged with one count of robbery in the first degree, three counts of kidnapping in the first degree and one count of assault in the second degree.
The charges stem from an Oct. 20 incident when Maples, wearing a mask and armed with a gun, allegedly entered Hometown Groceries on Sparkman Street after the store closed, overpowered the three female employees working there. He them allegedly attempted to leave with a large amount of cash.
According to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, Maples realized Hartselle Police were at the scene as he started to leave, prompting him to take one of the female employee’s hostage, using her as a shield as he tried to exit the building and threatening to kill her if the police didn’t drop their weapons.
Maples was shot by one of the responding Hartselle officers. The shooting is being investigated by the sheriff’s office, a routine procedure in shootings involving an officer.
Maples has been a patient at Huntsville Hospital since that date and under guard by members of the Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested upon his release from the hospital and formally charged.