Local and federal authorities arrested a man on Friday they described as the second alleged suspect in a smash and grab armed robbery on Veterans Drive, according to a statement issued Monday by U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert.
On Monday prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office asked for the suspect to be held in detention, pending an appearance in District Court.
According to an affidavit filed with the court, the Dec. 11 arrest of Tashawn T.A. Warner was aided by a security camera recording of the Gems and Gold Corner Jewelry Store, an alert citizen and a cellphone dropped during a police chase.
Warner made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Ruth Miller following his arrest on Friday. He is accused of Hobbs Act Robbery and a number of local offenses. Investigators said that Warner was one of two masked and armed men who entered the store on Sept. 19, broke the glass display case and removed an undisclosed amount of merchandise.
One of the two masked men also allegedly assaulted one individual inside the store and pointed a weapon at another.
“Both men took jewelry from the store and got back into the vehicle which was driven by a third man. The complaint alleges Warner was the man brandishing the rifle in the store. Jamari Benjamin was previously arrested in connection with this offense; the third man remains at large,” Shappert said.
Court documents say investigators believed Warner was the second gunman involved in the Sept. 19 robbery because of a noticeable difference in height between the two armed suspects seen on a surveillance camera.
When police pursued a vehicle matching the description of the one used in the robbery to the Bovoni Housing Community later that day. Two people in the vehicle fled as the chase ended.
One dropped a cellphone. Police were able to trace the phone back to Warner.
A detention hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday.
