Bryan Stewart

Richmond County Daily Journal

A robbery suspect was arrested after he was found hiding in a patch of woods off Collins Church Road following a short vehicle chase.

Reports provided by the Sheriff’s Office said Cedric Antonio Bell, 22, Crestway Drive, Rockingham, entered a convenient store on Rosalyn Road in Cordova and began to loiter for period of time before entering the line behind another customer.

The clerk said Bell reached over the counter and grabbed a handful of $20 bills, estimated at $100. He then ran from the store and got back in his vehicle and drove away.

Approximately three minutes after the Sheriff’s Office received the robbery call, a deputy spotted a vehicle matching the description of Bell’s and subsequently began to tail the vehicle.

The suspect in the vehicle, traveling on Mizpah Road, turned off onto Moss Lane, according to reports, at which time a short chase ensued.

Quickly after turning onto Collins Church Road, Bell wrecked his vehicle. He jumped from the wreck and fled on foot. With the help of other deputies and the K-9 unit, Bell was found about 300 feet from the wreck, hiding in a patch of woods.

He was arrested and placed in the Richmond County Jail under $100,000 bond for felony common law robbery, felony possession of a stolen vehicle and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia -along with several driving citations.

Other incidents and arrests reported by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office include:

n John Eugene Cooper Jr., 31, Lowery Drive, Laurinburg, was charged by the Sheriff’s Office with three counts of felony breaking and entering, three counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering, one county of felony possession of a firearm by a felon, felony possession of a stolen firearm, felony habitual felon and misdemeanor possession of stolen goods. In early November he was arrested for a series of breaking and enterings in Richmond County.

His arrest clears several breaking and entering cases, including some on Oak Ridge Church Road, Old Laurinburg Road and Osborne Road, all in Hamlet, according to lawmen.

According to incident reports, Cooper stole firearms, jewelry, cash, electronics and even toiletries.

Bond for the new charges was set at $25,000. He is currently in the Richmond County Jail awaiting a Jan. 7 trial date.

Staff writer Bryan Stewart can be reached at 997-3111 ext. 15 or by e-mail at bstewart@yourdailyjournal.com.