Police Blotter: Robbery Suspects Stopped But Not Arrested

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Two men who seemed to match the description in a North Chamberlain Avenue robbery were stopped, but not arrested.

James Stegall said he was walking home from his job at Pizza Hut when a green Nissan Pathfinder approached. He said a black male wearing a ski mask exited the passenger side and pointed a small, black semi-automatic revolver at him. The man demanded, "Give it up."

He said he was pushed against a fence and gave up $90 in cash and two packs of Newport cigarettes.

He said a very large black male was driving the vehicle.

Officer Russell Morrison said as police were answering the call, a green Nissan Pathfinder drove by. The vehicle was stopped and driver Darrel Armstrong and Charles Rizer were interviewed.

Police said Armstrong is a very large black male. Two packs of Newports and a ski mask were found in the vehicle. A .38 Smith and Wesson revolver was found nearby.

Police said the suspects were allowed to leave after Mr. Stegall's story changed and based on problems with his description of the gun and the fact he could only ID the gunman by his shoes.

Police got a report of four people harrassing others in the 2100 block of E. 17th Street. While checking out the situation, there was a report of shots fired.

Officers heard the foursome running through woods behind some houses. They headed toward a lot with some vehicles, pallets and other items on it.

One of the suspects was found hiding behind some bushes near a fence to the lot. Police said the others jumped the fence. They were found hiding in a car.

Two adults and two juveniles were arrested.

David Appleby of Woodland View Circle said a black female knocked on his door and asked if she could come in. He said he told her she could not.

He said a few seconds later he was standing near his bedroom door when he heard four gunshots. He found the shots had been fired through an exhaust fan into his apartment.

Police said three blades on the fan were damaged by the shots, and it appeared the gunman had a clear view of Mr. Appleby through the fan and was aiming for him.

A witness said he saw two black males and a black female leave in a dark-colored vehicle at a high rate of speed.

A worker at a drive-through restaurant at 2304 E. 23rd St. said a black male ordered food from his vehicle.

The man then got out of the older Cadillac, came to the window with a silver handgun and demanded money.

The worker dropped to the floor and crawled away from the window.

The gunman got back in the Cadillac and drove off.

James Hanson, a driver for Millenium Cab, said he was at a stop sign at S. Hickory Street and E. 28th Street when two black males approached. One reached in the open window and grabbed him by his shirt.

A large-caliber revolver was pointed at him, and he handed over $75.

He said the robbers were wearing black denim shirts and shorts and red bandanas and both had corn rolls.

Albert Trimble of Windsor Street said he witnessed someone climb over his chain link fence, break down the door on his storage shed and roll away his lawn mower.

Police stopped two men - Samuel Thurman and Anthony Blackwell - on Rawlings Street with the lawn mower.

The owner of the mower identified Thurman as the thief who got his mower and did $700 in damage to his shed door. Thurman was arrested for burglary, theft under $500 and vandalism.

Christopher C. Johnson explained to police why he had to go to Erlanger Medical Center after being shot in the left foot.

He said he was at the parking lot of the Diamonds and Lace Club on Lee Highway when a man named "Pooh" walked up to him and tried to sell him a black revolver.

Johnson said he was checking out the gun when it went off and the bullet went into his foot.


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