AHOSKIE – Acting on a tip, Ahoskie Police have solved a two-month-old armed robbery case.

Rashad J. Taylor, 21, of 114 North Academy Street is being held under an $85,000 secured bond, charged with three felonies and a pair of misdemeanors stemming from his alleged Feb. 24 heist of the Wilco Hess store, located at the corner of Main Street and Academy Street.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh said he received a tip late Friday night concerning Taylor’s whereabouts.

“We dispatched officers to the place where I was told Mr. Taylor would be and, sure enough, he was there,” Fitzhugh said, adding that the arrest was made without incident.

Fitzhugh said Taylor was found inside a place of business near the First and Maple Street intersection in Ahoskie. The time of arrest was 12:55 a.m. Saturday.

Ahoskie Police Captain Michelle Garrett lodged the following charges against Taylor:

Felony robbery with a dangerous weapon;

Felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury;

Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;

Misdemeanor assault by pointing a gun; and

Misdemeanor communicating threats.

Taylor made his first appearance on Tuesday in Hertford County District Court.

“I’d like to thank my officers, the Sheriff’s deputies and other agencies that assisted us in making this arrest,” Fitzhugh said.

Following the February heist, Taylor was the prime suspect in the crime, but lawmen were not able to locate him until this past weekend. Chief Fitzhugh said Taylor was developed as a suspect in the case based on evidence at the crime scene.

There, the suspect entered the north side entrance of the Wilco Hess store at approximately 10:15 p.m. Fitzhugh said two clerks were working at that time. One of the clerks was apparently stocking shelves when the suspect entered.

“She came towards the counter at which time she noticed the suspect was behind the counter with the other clerk,” Fitzhugh said. “She then turned and went into the store’s bathroom, locking the door behind her, and called 9-1-1.”

Meanwhile, the suspect struck the counter clerk in the face with his handgun. Fitzhugh said that clerk was told if she didn’t open the register she would be shot.

Upon the register being opened, the suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash and exited the store through the same door he entered.