The Dover Police Department has arrested Tyrese Payne, 31, of Dover, following four armed robberies that occurred within the past week, according to Master Corporal Ryan Schmid.
Schmid said the investigation began on Saturday, September 3, 2022, when a victim contacted Dover Police and advised that he was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of Burlington Coat Factory, 515 North Dupont Highway, by two black males, one of which was armed with a handgun at approximately 12:09 a.m. The suspects obtained an undisclosed amount of money from the victim and fled on foot.
A second victim contacted Dover Police on the same date and advised that he was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of One Stop, 1102 Whiteoak Road, by two black males, one of which was armed with a handgun at approximately 1:20 a.m., according to Schmid. The suspects stole the victim’s vehicle during this incident and fled. The vehicle has since been recovered.
The third victim contacted Dover Police on the same date and advised that he was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of Lake Club Apartments, 400 North Dupont Highway, by two black males, one of which was armed with a handgun at approximately 2:00 a.m. said Schmid. During this incident, the suspects ordered the victim to drive them around and obtained an undisclosed amount of money from him before being dropped off a local hotel added Schmid.
On Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 1:38 a.m., Dover Police took the report of an armed robbery at Lake Club Apartments, 400 North Dupont Highway. It was reported that two black males approached the victim, displayed a firearm, and demanded his property. The victim turned over an undisclosed amount of money and other property to the suspects. The suspects then fled in an unknown direction. The suspects were described as a black males, wearing all black. The victim also described one of the suspects as wearing a black bag across his chest. At approximately 2:51 a.m., patrol officers observed Payne and a currently unidentified black male, matching the description of the suspects, in the parking lot of St. Andrews Church, 425 North Dupont Highway Dover.
Officers were able to take Payne into custody without incident, however, the second suspect fled on foot and currently has not been identified. A canvas of the area that the suspect fled was conducted, which resulted in officers locating a bag that contained a silver and black BB gun. Officers also recovered a portion of the victim’s property from Payne said Schmid.
Payne was transported to Dover Police where he was arraigned and committed to SCI on $110,000 cash bail on the following charges:
-Robbery First Degree (x4)
-Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (x3)
-Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (x3)
-Conspiracy Second Degree (x4)