AHOSKIE – Three Ahoskie residents are behind bars in connection with an armed robbery that occurred here Feb. 26.

On March 13, the Ahoskie Police Department arrested Ti’shone Askew, 19 of 117-H VIP Road, Parise Pope, 19 of 321 West First Street, and Randolph Gatling, 19 of 915 East First Street. Each was charged with one felony count of robbery with a dangerous weapon and first degree burglary. They were placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $45,000 bond each.

APD officers were summoned Feb. 26 to an armed robbery call at a Church Street residence. The suspects had fled prior to the officers’ arrival.

According to APD Captain Michele Garrett, the victim informed officers that noises were first heard at the back door of the residence where the suspects allegedly attempted to gain entry.

“Those noises then were reportedly heard at the front door, at which time a person inside the residence went to investigate and was confronted by the suspects who pointed a gun to his head,” Captain Garrett said.

That victim and another person in the residence were ordered to lie on the floor, Garrett reported. She added that the suspects then ransacked the residence, eventually making their way back to the original victim where they robbed him of an undisclosed amount of cash on his person.

The alleged robbers also stole a pit bull puppy from the residence, Garrett said.

APD Lt. Jeremy Roberts investigated the crime. He produced a photo line-up from which the victim identified the three suspects.