By Lance Martin

rrspin.com

ROANOKE RAPIDS – Roanoke Rapids Police on Tuesday charged a Seaboard man in the Village Grocery armed robberies and one breaking and entering case that occurred in the downtown area.

Jason Tyler Rook, 20, has been charged with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, larceny after breaking, and possession of stolen goods.

Roanoke Rapids Police Captain O.L. Morgan said the possession of stolen goods count reflects money that was stolen in the Village Grocery robberies as well as the residential break-in.

Morgan declined comment on how Detective Bobby Martin linked Rook to the armed robberies, which occurred less than three weeks apart in late January and early February.

The investigation, however, led to the residential break-in being solved, Morgan said. Roanoke Rapids Detective Roy Ball investigated that case.

Rook was jailed on $200,000 bond and has an April 23 court date.

Village Grocery, located near KapStone and the Roanoke Canal Museum, was first robbed on the evening of Jan. 25. That crime occurred around 6:15 when a man dressed in a camouflage coat, a stocking cap over his face and dark gloves entered the store, possibly brandishing a large knife.

He demanded money while customers were inside the store. The clerk complied and the suspect left on foot, heading up what is known as Bunker Hill beside storage units and the museum. The robber left a trail of change as he fled.

The store was robbed again on Feb. 6, leading Roanoke Rapids Police to determine that the crimes were committed by the same person.

No one was hurt in either robbery.

(Lance Martin is the Publisher and Editor of rr.spin.com. This article and photo are being published with his permission.)