Five arrested for recent robberies targeting college-age victims
Columbia police announced Thursday the arrests of five people in connection with recent robberies targeting college-age males.
Shortly before midnight Wednesday, police searched a home on Greensboro Drive in Columbia for evidence related to the robberies. They reported finding items which may have been stolen, and are working to get in touch with the victims to try and return what was stolen. In most of the robberies, the victims were either current or former students at the University of Missouri.
At around 3:30 Wednesday, officers with the Street Crimes Unit were on International Drive in north Columbia looking for suspects in the investigation. They stopped a vehicle carrying Deandre Denny, Richard Johnson Jr., and Darion Polk.
Officers say Denny had a concealed gun and marijuana, and reported finding marijuana with Johnson, as well as a digital scale under Johnson’s seat. Denny is a convicted felon; Johnson had some misdemeanor warrants at the time of his arrest.
As a result of the investigation, officers arrested the following:
– Deandre Denny, 19, on suspicion of robbery and armed criminal action (five counts each), as well as possession of a controlled substance
– Darion Polk, 21, on suspicion of robbery (fivecounts), armed criminal action (sixcounts), unlawful use of a weapon, and assault
– Christion Johnson, 17, on suspicion of robbery (five counts), armed criminal action (four counts), and assault
– Richard Johnson Jr., 22, on suspicion of robbery, armed criminal action, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia
– Ashley Aubrey, 20, on suspicion of robbery and armed criminal action (four counts each)
Investigators have linked the suspects to six incidents with varying degrees of participation. Those incidents include:
– Armed robbery on Hitt Street, behind Gnter Hans, shortly before 1 a.m. on July 12. Police say Denny, Polk, and Christion Johnson committed the robbery, while Aubrey provided transportation.
– Armed robbery on Old Highway 63 South at the Campus Lodge apartment complex, at around 1:30 a.m. on July 12.Police say Denny, Polk, and Christion Johnson committed the robbery, while Aubrey provided transportation.
– Armed robbery in the area of Locust and Waugh Streets, shortly before 11 p.m. on July 12.Police say Denny, Polk, and Christion Johnson committed the robbery, while Aubrey provided transportation.
– Armed robbery on Wilkes Boulevard near College Avenue, at around 11:45 p.m. July 12.Police say Denny, Polk, and Christion Johnson committed the robbery, while Aubrey provided transportation.
– Assault near Tenth and Cherry Streets at around 1:30 a.m. July 16. Police say Polk showed a gun in a threatening manner to the victim, then put the gun in his car and punched the victim several times.
– Armed robbery near where the Bear Creek Trail crosses Providence Road, shortly after 11 p.m. on July 16. Police sayDenny, Polk, C. Johnson, and R. Johnson, Jr. committed the robbery.
