custom ad
NewsAugust 24, 2000

A third armed robbery in Cape Girardeau this week resulted in the arrest of a 42-year-old man who said he needed money for medication, police said. About 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, an armed robbery involving a knife was reported by Rhodes 101 Stop at 407 Morgan Oak, patrolman Chris Muench said...

A third armed robbery in Cape Girardeau this week resulted in the arrest of a 42-year-old man who said he needed money for medication, police said.

About 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, an armed robbery involving a knife was reported by Rhodes 101 Stop at 407 Morgan Oak, patrolman Chris Muench said.

The clerk told police that the man entered the store and threatened him with an eight-inch knife, which he pressed into the clerk's side. He demanded money, and said he needed to buy medication, Muench said.

The clerk was not injured, police said.

The robber led the clerk toward the front cash register, where the clerk removed a $20 bill. No other money was demanded by the robber, although much more was in the register, Muench said.

In addition to the $20, the robber took a miniature bottle of liquor and a 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola.

The man was apprehended by police within several minutes at the 400 block of Good Hope. He is being held in custody pending charges, police said.

Earlier on Wednesday, two Cape Girardeau men were charged for an armed robbery that turned into a kidnapping from a gas station on Tuesday evening, Cpl. Kevin Orr said.

Police charged Milton Robert Whitfield, 18, and Evan Devonne Johnson Jr., 17, with robbery, armed criminal action and felonious restraint in connection with the incident.

Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!

About 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday, two boys, 17 and 16, were at Don's Store 24 at 341 S. Sprigg St. when they were approached by Johnson, police reported.

The suspect threatened the two with a knife, and ordered them to drive him to the 1000 block of Bloomfield Road, Orr said.

The gray Pontiac was then parked in an alley off of Bloomfield Road, where two others, one a man with a shotgun, were waiting.

The robbers ordered the two boys to lie on their stomachs in the alley while stereo equipment was removed from the car. They were held at gunpoint during the robbery, and told that if police found out, they would kill them, Orr said.

Wallets were also stolen.

During part of the incident, the robbers told the two victims to help them remove stereo equipment from the car, police said.

One of the victims received a small cut from a knife on his arm. It did not require medical treatment, Orr said.

At 12:24 a.m. on Wednesday, patrolman Paul Kesterson observed a vehicle in an alley in the same location as the robbery. When Kesterson investigated, he discovered Johnson and Whitfield, along with a 16-year-old boy in the backseat. All three were taken into custody.

The boy has been cited into juvenile court for curfew violation, pending further investigation, Orr said.

A third armed robbery occurred at 9:34 p.m. Monday at Pizza Pro at 527 N. Silver Springs Rd. A man wearing two blue bandannas over his face held two employees with a black revolver. He escaped on foot with cash from the register and the employees' wallets, police said.

Story Tags
Advertisement

Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:

For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.

Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!