Dollar General robbery charges filed
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on May 2, 2010 1:50 AM
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Domonic Devarrise Usher
A coordinated effort between Goldsboro, Princeton, and Wilson police and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office led to the arrests of nine men and a woman in the past weeks, in thefts targeting Dollar General and other stores throughout the area.
The thefts began in November 2009, first targeting the Dollar General chain, and then to similar stores, convenience stores and restaurants, Capt. Tom Effler said.
The robberies were characterized by two to three black men who entered the stores dressed in dark clothing with black bandannas covering part of their faces.
In some instances, the suspects used firearms to force workers at the stores to open safes, Effler said.
Each of the 10 men arrested had varying roles in the robberies, people familiar with the case said.
Detective Sgt. Ron Baker was the lead investigator for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, and was assisted by Detective Sgts. Bob Golimowski and Mike Reid.
At the Goldsboro Police Department, the investigation was being led by Detective Jeremy Sutton, authorities said.
The captain said that detectives from the various agencies began working together when a number of robberies appeared to be linked.
Authorities say a concerned citizen's call led to the first break in the case, when the Family Dollar store in Princeton.
The witness, who was driving by, reported a suspicious vehicle leaving the store, leading to evidence.
The person followed the vehicle and wrote down the license plate number, reporting it to authorities.
When the license plate number was traced to an address, patrol officers began watching the address, Effler said.
That led to the arrests of some of the initial suspects. Further investigation after identifying the initial suspects led to the other
Effer said the Sheriff's Office personnel put in more than 800 hours of overtime on the surveillance project, and ran watches on stores they thought might be targeted for five weeks,
Sheriff Carey Winders limited his comments to the news release.
"I would like to express my appreciation to the detectives from both agencies for the way they worked together sharing information," Winders said in the release. "I especially want to express my appreciation for the Princeton ... citizen for getting involved. Often times it is citizen's involvement that gives law enforcement that one little bit of extra information needed."
One suspect is still sought. Domonic Devarrise Usher, 29, had no address listed.
More charges could still be filed in the case, Effler said.
Charged included:
*Anthony David Brown, 21, Quail Drive, 10 counts robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count attempted robbery, once counts conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, four counts second-degree kidnapping. He was jailed under a $1.13 million bond.
*Malcolm Jamal Artis, 20, Holowell Street, four counts robbery with a dangerous weapon, three counts second-degree kidnapping, aid and abet an armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was jailed under a $465,000 bond.
*Antonio Deonte Jones, 26, Booker Street, Pikeville, two counts robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, three counts conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, three counts aid and abet an armed robbery. He was jailed under a $450,000 bond.
*Ivory Javaughntae Harris, 18, Elton Drive, five counts robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, three counts conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, attempted common law robbery. He was jailed under a $400,000 bond.
*Darius Ramon Edwards, 16, South Andrews Avenue, one count robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, $100,000 bond.
*Derric Lyneal Dove Jr., 20, Quail Drive, two counts robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, $225,000 bond.
*Brandon Daquan Gatling, 16, North Audubon Avenue, robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, $100,000 bond.
*Magdalene Patricia Lane, 18, Rachel Drive, robbery with a dangerous weapon, $50,000 bond.
*Christopher Lavaughn Jones, 20, Banks Avenue, robbery with a dangerous weapon, $50,000 bond.