Teens Charged In Armed Robbery
Yalobusha County deputies arrested three people July 2 in connection with an armed robbery on West Lee Street in Water Valley and a home burglary on County Road 214 that occurred June 28.
Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported two juveniles, Javion Wilks, age 15, and Qy’Darrious Towns, 17, and one adult, Demonterrious Hervey, age 18, were charged by city police for armed robbery, grand larceny and conspiracy to commit a crime for their alleged involvement in the armed robbery on West Lee Street.
The sheriff also said that the two juveniles are charged as adults in the case because of the use of a firearm during the robbery. Water Valley municipal judge Trent Howell set bond for all three men at $215,000 during an initial appearance in city court on July 6.
Water Valley Police Chief A.J. Hernandez provided details of the armed robbery, explaining that multiple suspects pulled up in the victim’s yard on West Lee Street and robbed him at gunpoint, stealing more than 40 guns, cash, collectible coins and other items. According to the statement, the victim told investigators he was working on his vehicle in his yard when one of the teens came around the corner holding a gun and forced him inside to open his safe.
Humphreys said the burglary on CR 214 occurred the same afternoon and authorities immediately surmised they were looking for the same suspects in the two cases.
In the burglary in the county on CR 214, Hervey will be charged with burglary, grand larceny and conspiracy to commit a crime in the county case on CR 214 and the other two suspects will be initially sent to youth court, but could be adjudicated and charged as adults in the second crime.
All three men were taken into custody on County Road 15 following a joint investigation between the Water Valley Police Department and Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff praised his narcotics investigator, Thomas West, and his captain, Jerimaine Gooch, for their hard work in the arrests.
“Gooch and West were actually on a stake-out in the woods on County Road 15 early Sunday morning after we learned where they may be stashing some of the stolen items,” Humphreys explained. While the stake-out was unsuccessful, the sheriff said the break came when the two deputies stopped at the Exxon station on Frostland Drive for breakfast after spending the night in the woods.
“The car they had been searching for literally pulled up beside them,” Humphreys said. The driver was stopped after he left the convenience store and items recovered inside the vehicle were immediately linked to the city’s armed robbery. Although the driver wasn’t a suspect in the case, the sheriff said the information started flowing.
“My guys called me around 5 a.m. and told me they had enough information to start bringing the suspects in,” Humphreys said. Shortly after the suspects were brought to the sheriff’s department, the sheriff explained that he and Water Valley Captain Roger Thomas spent several hours questioning the men before they were charged.
“We are proud to get these guys off the streets, the armed robbery committed in broad daylight was extremely bold and dangerous,” Humphreys added. The sheriff also praised citizen input in helping with the case, including a tip from a neighbor that provided critical information including the tag number after seeing the vehicle driving suspiciously through the neighborhood prior to the crime.
Humphreys also said city police had uncovered leads in the case. While many of the guns and other items were recovered, he added said authorities are continuing to search for some of it including numerous pistols.
“It was a good, joint operation between the sheriff’s department and Water Valley Police Department. We were putting the heat on the suspects. They knew it and were laying low before we made the arrests Sunday. One of the suspects even admitted they knew we were hot on their trail,” the sheriff added.
