Two men arrested, warrant obtained for a third after two robberies
Lexington police arrested two men and obtained an arrest warrant for a third after a series of robberies in early Thursday.
The first robbery occurred about 1:30 a.m. on Arlington Avenue, according to police. Two victims told officers they were walking home from a grocery store when a dark SUV approached them and two men jumped out.
One of the two men pointed a gun at the victims and demanded their belongings, according to police. The men took the victims’ cellphones, keys, groceries and a wallet.
About half an hour later, a second robbery occurred at the Waffle House at 2203 North Broadway, according to police. The victims at the restaurant told police that three men got out of an SUV armed with two handguns and an ax.
The men took the cash register from the restaurant and left, according to police. Witnesses were able to give police a license plate number, which was registered to a blue Chevrolet Traverse.
A Lexington patrol officer saw the vehicle about 2:30 a.m. at the Speedway station on Versailles Road at Alexandria Drive, according to police. When the officer approached, four men tried to run.
Demarco W. Cothron, 27, and David A. Ross Jr., 25, were arrested on charges of burglary, receiving stolen property and two counts of first-degree robbery, according to police.
Officers have obtained an arrest warrant for Desmond Keys, 24, on charges of burglary and two counts of first-degree robbery.
The Chevrolet Traverse had been reported stolen Sunday, according to police. Several items taken in the previous robberies were found in the vehicle. Investigators also found evidence that the suspects were connected to a burglary of the Check Exchange at 644 North Broadway that occurred just before the Waffle House robbery.
The investigation is open. Officers are working to find Keys and identify additional suspects.
Morgan Eads: 859-231-1330, @HLpublicsafety
This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Two men arrested, warrant obtained for a third after two robberies."