Two arrested after robberies in Selma, Dallas County
Published 7:26 am Thursday, February 7, 2019
Two suspects are in jail after a rash of robberies on Tuesday night.
Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier told news outlets that Tamica Hall and Rayford Mitchell, both 19, were arrested after multiple robberies were committed in Dallas County and in Selma.
Collier said the crimes began around 10 p.m. on Tuesday night when a vehicle was reported stolen from Valley Grande.
Collier said the car was taken during a carjacking.
Selma Police Department Officers were then dispatched to a robbery of an individual in the parking lot of Winn Dixie on Dallas Avenue in Selma.
Collier said the suspects were armed with an AK-47 rifle, which Collier said matched the weapon used in the carjacking in Valley Grande.
Collier said officers spotted the suspects at a convenience store on Citizens Parkway where Hall was taken into custody without incident.
Collier said two other suspects fled on foot and officers followed them into the parking lot of Addison Way Apartments.
It was here that Mitchell surrendered and a 9 mm pistol with a 25-round extended magazine was recovered from him, according to Collier.
Collier said that an officer fired one shot, but the shot did not hit Mitchell.
“I was on scene with our officer less than a minute after he fired at the suspect,’’ Collier told news outlets in a release. “Given the totality of the circumstances, and considering the suspect was armed during the foot chase, his continuous refusal to obey the officer’s commands and the officer’s knowledge of the multiple violent offenses the suspects just committed; I am convinced the officer’s actions were justified and appropriate. However, in an effort of full transparency, I requested SBI to review the incident.”
Mitchell was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree receiving stolen property, second-degree receiving stolen property, and attempting to elude. Mitchell was booked into the Dallas County Jail with no bond for the robbery charge. The bond on his remaining charges totaled $66,000.
Hall was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree receiving stolen property, and second-degree receiving stolen property. He, too, was booked into the jail on no bond. The bond for his remaining charges is set at $60,000.
In a release, Collier said the vehicle the suspects were using was determined to be stolen.
Collier said a stolen AK-47 was found inside the vehicle as well.
Collier said the department is working to identify the third suspect and that additional charges are expected.
“These three suspects’ needless and senseless violence against innocent citizens only served to terrorize,’’ Collier said in a release. “They are absolute cowards and we are committed to catching the remaining suspect. I am proud of the prompt response of our officers and their efforts to apprehend the suspects.”