Millsboro – The Delaware State Police have arrested two Frankford men in connection with a pair of robberies and other crimes, according to Delaware State Police Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier.
At around 3:43 a.m. Wednesday January 18, 2017, troopers were dispatched to the Royal Farms, located at 26672 Johns J. Williams Highway (SR24), for a report of a robbery that just occurred,said Fournier.
Fournier said that a man, who was armed with a handgun, was wearing a mask when he demanded money the female clerk. The clerk complied with the demand and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash before he fled in an unknown direction. said Fournier.
As troopers were investigating that incident, a second robbery occurred around 4:31 a.m. at the Dash Inn, located at 24851 John J. Williams Highway, according to Fournier. In this incident, a male subject entered the store and pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the female clerk, said Fournier.
Fournier said the the man demanded cash. Upon opening the cash drawer, the female victim fled the store and entered her car. The suspect removed the cash and then fled the business in a vehicle, which was soon broadcast across the police radio, Fourniersaid in a statement.
Troopers responding to the second robbery were on the lookout for the vehicle, which was described as a Kia Rio, and located it driving eastbound on SR24 west of Warrington Road. Fournier said that when troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the car continued eastbound. Troopers witnessed the occupants throwing handgun out of the window, said Fournier. The vehicle finally came to a stop on Warrington Road and Matthew R. Edwards, 19, and Zack Umstead, 20, both of Frankford, were taken into custody without further incident.
Fournier said that the Kia Rio was stolen earlier that evening from a residence located on West Alabama Drive in Frankford. The two handguns were also stolen from a residence in Bethany Meadows on Tuesday January 17, 2017, according to Fournier.
Matthew Edwards and Zack Umstead were both transported back to Troop 4 in Georgetown where they were charged with two counts of Robbery 1st, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony Conspiracy 2nd, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, two counts of Receiving a Stolen Firearm, and various other charges. They were arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $164,500.00 cash (Edwards) and $183,002.00 cash.
None of the victims were injured in any of the incidents.
Image Credits: Delaware State Police