Information from public leads to arrests in two armed robberies
Staff Photo: Alan Mauldin
By Alan Mauldin
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ALBANY — A tip led Albany police on Wednesday to a West Gordon Avenue residence where they arrested two brothers suspected in a Dec. 11 armed robbery and also nabbed a third man on a drug possession charge.
“We received information from another robbery we were working,” Albany Police Department Sgt. Nicovian Price said during a news conference Thursday. “We’ve had several armed robberies throughout the city, and we’ve been receiving information from citizens about the robberies.”
Police arrested 20-year-old Antonio Hicks and Ricky Hicks Jr. and Gregory Leverett, both 21, at the 819 Gordon Ave. residence.
“During a search we were able to recover cash and two firearms,” Price said.
Police also found marijuana, he said.
Antonio Hicks and Ricky Hicks Jr. are accused of the Dec.11 holdup of the 520 S. Slappey Boulevard Fairway convenience store. Price said that two masked males entered the store and demanded money while there were three people inside. No one was injured in the robbery.
Antonio Hicks has been charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and false imprisonment. Ricky Hines Jr. is charged with armed robbery and false imprisonment.
In addition, Antonio Hicks is charged with another count of armed robbery in connection to the Dec. 4 robbery of a 1200 Dawson Road convenience store.
Leverett was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Police said they are investigating whether the robberies were gang-related.
“Through the investigation, there are some ties to gangs, or a particular gang,” Price said.
Price encouraged residents to continue passing along any tips they have as they work to solve other robberies, of which there have been about 28 in the city during 2019.
He also reminded store owners and employees to be vigilant and consider measures that will reduce the chances of their being targeted, including hiring security protection, electronic locks that secure the store after a certain time of night and calling for a police escort when closing the store.
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