Ian Barkley Coles is back in Halifax County where he is jailed on $508,000 bond.
Coles was returned to Halifax County from Philadelphia Thursday night around 9. Coles has family there and fled there after allegedly assaulting and robbing two elderly women at a downtown Roanoke Avenue store in August.
Original mugshot
Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said Coles significantly changed his appearance while on the lam. There is no evidence, however, he committed any crimes while on the run.
Coles, who fought extradition to Halifax County, faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, robbery with a dangerous weapon and attempted common law robbery. He has a November 17 court date. He was also served with six orders for arrest including failure to appear.
The police department had to issue a governor’s warrant for the man’s return to Halifax County.
In August, allegedly entered F and F Rentals around 12:15 p.m. through the back door and attempted to rob the store’s two female employees. He used pepper spray on them and struck a 67-year-old female employee in the head with the shotgun he allegedly carried inside the business.
Coles fled on foot with their purses.
The victims have recovered from their injuries, Jackson said, but remain traumatized from the crime. “That’s going to take a lot of time.”
Law enforcement is familiar with Coles, who in June led officers on a foot chase to the roof of an apartment building in the same block where Thursday's robbery occurred.
Coles made a 20 foot downward leap to the roof of another building.He was captured and jailed. He was wanted for a June 14 shooting into occupied property.
Members of the department’s A squad received information he was hiding and located him at a downtown area apartment.
Officers searched the apartment and noticed an open window. The open window led officers to roof where Coles was running.
When he came to the end of the building he jumped 20 feet down onto the roof of another building.
Officers pursued and caught him, charging him with communicating threats, escape from custody and discharging a weapon into occupied property.
Coles was also arrested in a purse snatching that occurred in the parking lot of the downtown Food Lion last year. He was charged with aid and abet robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of stolen property.
