On the evening of July 27, 2025 at around 7 p.m., deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a convenience store located on Highway 32 following reports of what was initially reported to be an armed robbery.
According to eyewitness accounts, a male suspect entered the store and began arguing with staff about the price of cigarettes. Witnesses stated that the man exited the store twice before returning a third time wielding a weapon. During this final entry, the suspect reportedly threatened store employees, stating: “I’m gonna shoot both of y’all.”
Deputies quickly secured the scene and began reviewing surveillance footage. Through swift investigative work, detectives were able to identify the suspect as 39-year-old Michael Lee Ansel, a Coffee County resident with a known criminal history.
By approximately 9:30 p.m., detectives had confirmed Ansel’s identity and launched a search for his whereabouts. Utilizing traditional investigative methods and persistent field work, law enforcement located Ansel shortly before midnight.
Upon contact, Ansel openly admitted to entering the store making threats to “Send them back in a box,” citing frustration over the cigarette pricing advertised at $6 but sold for $12 as his motivation for the outburst.
When informed that he was being arrested for making terroristic threats, Ansel refused to comply and he immediately jumped in a nearby pond. As detectives put forth effort to safely apprehend Ansel from the water, he then began having a seizure. Deputies quickly rendered aid and safely removed him from the water without injury to himself or others. It was later determined that Ansel was wielding a hatchet when he entered the store.
Ansel was taken into custody and transported to the Coffee County Jail, where he remains held without bond at this time. He is formally charged with the following terroristic threats and acts as well as obstruction of law enforcement officers.