Local lawbreakers in custody

Local lawbreakers in custody

By John Rech

news@theeveningtimes.com

Break-in Ring Busted

What do Interstate Liquors north of Marion and the AT& T store in West Memphis have in common? The same theft ring is suspected in both robberies.

The robbers were also arrested in Tennessee as suspects in six thefts in the last few weeks.

On this side of the river, the gang is suspected in a rash of burglaries. In addition to the West Memphis location, the AT& T store in Newport was recently ransacked. Two additional liquor stores were also targeted — one in Poinsett county and a store in Colt, in St. Francis County.

One smash-and-grab involved an inside-the-store ATM at a convenience store in Boliver.

“They used their Colorado pickup truck to smash the store front and pull the ATM off its pins,” said Sheriff Mike Allen.

Lorico Woods, Roderick Johnson and Nautica Moore are currently in custody, jailed in Memphis. The trio is facing multiple charges from the crime spree. Both the West Memphis Police Department and the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office are awaiting extradition once the suspects have been processed in Shelby County.

Flash Market Shooters Arrested

See CUSTODY on Page 3

Lorico Woods

Roderick Johnson

Nautica Moore

Roy Pickens CUSTODYthere

Continued from Page 1

Three local suspects in the Dec. 29 lames Mill Truck Stop shooting and robbery who were nabbed by police in the Kansas City suburb of Lenexa, Kansas, could not escape the long arm of the law. Crittenden County Sheriff Mike Allen said warrants had been issued for the suspects and put out nationwide through the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

Lenexa Police received a midnight disturbance call at the local Motel 6. Police responded, finding 30 yearold Vince Smith, a Sunset resident, hiding under the bed; a Crittenden County woman, Casey Bates in the room; and 25 year-old Leroy Pickens of West Memphis, running away.

The men were identified with over 200 tips from the public after photos of a store camera were released to the public.

The trio were traveling in vehicle.

Smith and Pickens are suspected of the robbery of the lames Mill Flash Market that led to the shooting of a customer. Bates tried using the victim’s credit cards at a Walmart and will be charged as an accessory to the crime.

Lenexa police are holding the trio as extradition to Crittenden County is coordinated.

Sheriff Allen said evidence recovered at the motel solidified the case against the three.

“Lenexa PD recovered two fire arms used in the robbery,” said Allen. “One of them was a pink handgun, not real manly.”

The sheriff noted the shooting victim, Kevin Griffin, continues to recover, referring to the majority of the five gunshot wounds to the victim’s the lower body as “through-andthrough.”