Linwood O'Neal Cain, 41, of Richmond, faces charges in Roanoke Rapids of robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and kidnapping.
Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said the kidnapping charge stems from Cain allegedly pointing a gun at the clerk during the robbery to prevent her from moving or fleeing the store.
Original surveillance photo.
Cain became a suspect in the Roanoke Rapids case after Virginia authorities saw surveillance footage from the Blue Flame robbery which matched suspect descriptions from Virginia robberies of Dollar General and Family Dollar stores.
The combined investigation led authorities to learn the suspect was seen leaving robbery scenes on a white Jeep Cherokee and be on the lookout notifications were given from Roanoke Rapids to Richmond, Jackson said.
Law enforcement in Lawrenceville gave notice to First Citizens Bank and Thursday employees of the drive through only bank observed a man trying to enter a door, which was locked. The man was carrying a motorcycle helmet and was wearing a wig..
When he couldn't get in the bank he was seen leaving on a white Cherokee. Employees notified police and the man was stopped.
Jackson said Cain is allegedly linked to about a dozen robberies from Richmond to Roanoke Rapids, although a time line has not been established.
Lawrenceville police had evidence Cain was allegedly going to rob the bank and evidence was found which allegedly linked him to the Blue Flame robbery.
It is not clear whether Cain could be linked to any other unsolved robberies in the area, Jackson said.
The Blue Flame robbery occurred shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday when a person described as a black male entered the store and showed the clerk a stainless steel handgun, possibly an automatic and demanded money.
The clerk complied and the man fled the store and was last seen heading to the mobile home dealership beside it.
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