Roanoke Rapids police Tuesday afternoon may have possibly thwarted a robbery after apprehending two teens following a chase.
Interim Chief Bobby Martin said this morning the department gathered information through further investigation “which told us a robbery was likely to take place.”
He declined elaboration. He also said this morning investigators don’t believe the boys — Dier Grant of the Rocky Mount area and Marcus Richardson of the Garysburg area, both 17 — are linked to the shooting death of a pizza delivery driver Tuesday morning.
This is based on the teens being from Garysburg and Rocky Mount. Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said the two people wanted in that murder and robbery are local.
In a statement this morning Martin said shortly before 5:15 p.m., officers responded to what originally was thought to be a robbery.
While officers were responding a description of the suspect vehicle was reported.
While officers were heading to the South Rosemary area to investigate, Officer D. Moore and Master Officer R. Cross spotted the vehicle on Seventh Street heading east.
They attempted to stop the car. The driver initially refused to stop but when he did a passenger bailed and started running. The driver took off again in an attempt to flee the stop.
Cross and Moore apprehend the person who fled and the vehicle was stopped on Seventh Street near Allen Avenue.
The person who ran on foot was checked and a handgun was located.
Through further investigation it is believed a robbery was going to take place, but a call by a citizen and the quick response of officers thwarted the attempt. The officers also believed the teens were planning to rob a person and not a business.
Grant was charged with resist/obstruct and delay, failure to heed blue lights and siren, and no operators license. He received a $1,500 bond and August 23 court date.
Richardson was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, resist/obstruct and delay, and possession of a weapon by a minor. He received a $3,000 bond and the same court date as Grant.
“The call from the concerned citizen in this incident made it possible for officers to respond to this area and also to prevent something more serious from happening,” Martin said in the statement. “The Roanoke Rapids Police Department greatly appreciates the assistance from our community and it shows that working together pays off. I would also like to take this opportunity to praise the officers that responded to this call and conducted the investigation because the teamwork displayed by these officers is commendable.”
Sergeants J. Hardy and T. Tyler, officers J. Shelburne and D. Newsome, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant J. Davis, G. Williams, M. Worrell, J. Wind , PACE members B. Council and J. DeSare all assisted.
