Armed robberies plague Ahoskie

Published 9:57 am Wednesday, May 22, 2019

AHOSKIE – Three separate armed robberies over the course of less than 31 hours have Ahoskie Police searching for suspects.

Of the three crimes, only one suspect has been identified.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh said an arrest warrant has been drawn for Henry Vann Mitchell Jr. of Ahoskie. Vann allegedly robbed Walgreens, located at 700 South Catherine Creek Road, at gunpoint at around 9:40 p.m. on Sunday.

“The call came in to us as an armed robbery in progress,” Fitzhugh said. “A black male wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans was seen leaving on foot, running towards the new Golden Skillet. We had officers, assisted by Hertford County Sheriff’s deputies, to ride that area in search of the suspect.”

Meanwhile, back at Walgreens, Ahoskie PD investigators interviewed a female clerk.

“She identified the suspect as Henry Vann Mitchell Jr.,” said Fitzhugh. “With that identification we drew a warrant on Mr. Mitchell for robbery with a dangerous weapon.”

Fitzhugh added that an undisclosed amount of money was taken. The clerk was not injured.

Those with information to share on Mitchell’s whereabouts are urged to contact the Ahoskie Police Dept. at 252-332-5011 or call 9-1-1.

The latest robbery occurred early Tuesday morning at the Red Room, a business located at 102 East Main Street.

There, according to Fitzhugh, two black males, both armed with handguns, entered the business shortly after 1 a.m. using a side door. Both men had their faces partially covered.

“Upon entering the business, the two suspects threatened and then accosted a female employee,” Fitzhugh said, adding that the worker was not seriously injured.

The suspects fled after robbing the business of an undisclosed amount of cash.

Those with information on the Red Room robbery are asked to contact APD Investigator Justin Farmer at 252-332-5011.

The recent rash of armed robberies began late Sunday afternoon when two black males entered The Ahoskie Market, located on Academy Street, and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

In that 6:25 p.m. crime, Fitzhugh said one of the suspects was described as wearing a blue hooded pullover with a white head scarf, dark pants, a green bandanna, white sneakers, and hand gloves. The second suspect was wearing a gray hooded pullover with a bandanna, dark pants, white sneakers, and hand gloves.

Both suspects were last seen leaving the store on foot towards Carolina Ave. A later report showed the men leaving the scene in a dark colored Dodge Caliber. Direction of travel was unknown.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Ahoskie Police Department at 252-332-5011 or the Hertford County E-9-1-1 Center.

Ahoskie Police K-9 Sergeant Michael Kellett and Lt. Jeremy Roberts are handling the case.

About Cal Bryant

Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.

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