Posted on 05/17/2007 3:05:06 PM PDT by aomagrat
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Authorities say they have arrested two Express Teller Services employees and three college students in connection with an armored car heist.
A sixth suspect remains on the loose.
The early-morning robbery last Friday left two people injured, and a lot of money taken.
The sheriff says the armored car was carrying $18 million. Of that, $9.8 million was stolen from the armored car.
While the sheriff says some of that $9.8 million has been recovered, some is still unaccounted for. He would not say how much is still out there.
The sheriff said at a Thursday afternoon press conference that the investigation revealed the companies procedures were not followed. That led authorities to believe it was an inside job.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department said last week that workers of Express Teller Services were attacked by armed, masked men just after midnight Friday morning.
They say the driver of an ETS armored car was refueling at the Circle K at Atlas and Bluff Roads.
Sheriff Lott stated that at approximately 12am, two suspects, Dominic La Shaun Lyde and Jeremy McPhail, approached and assaulted one of the security guards who was outside the armored car fueling up.
Sheriff Lott added the two suspects forced the guard into the armored car where the second guard, Darryl C. Frierson, was "forced" to drive the armored car to White House Road; where two other suspects, Kelby Blakney and Dominique Blakney, were waiting.
Sheriff Leon Lott stated that the guard/victim was kept inside the armored car by McPhail, while the other suspects removed the $9.8 million -- during which time Frierson had been freed of his restraints and assisted the suspects in removing the money.
Sheriff Leon Lott stated that early in the investigation the department received information on who was involved in the robbery -- the department confirmed the information and obtained an armed robbery warrant for Frierson.
Sheriff Lott stated that the department acted on the information and arrested Frierson on May 16, 2007 on Greensprings Road in the company of Dominique Blakney.
Sheriff Lott stated that investigators interviewed Frierson and Blakney who implicated themselves and the others involved.
On May 16, 2007 investigators from the Richland County Sheriff's Department arrested five of the suspects involved and have issued warrants for Dominic La Shaun Lyde.
Sheriff Lott noted Thursday that the fact that the armored car stopped for gas was enough to tip investigators off. Apparently the armored cars have plenty of fuel for their routes - there was no reason to stop.
The sheriff also said the amount of money the suspects took overwhelmed them. He said they bought shoes, tattoos, went to strip clubs, bought cars and even Mother's Day presents. He said they were "like a bunch of kids in a candy store."
Arrested and charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature are:
Darryl C. Frierson, 21, of Columbia. Domonique D. Blakney, 19, of Darlington Kelby D. Blakney, 20, of Darlington Jeremy M. Mcphail, 19, of Society Hill Arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery is Paul J. Whitaker, 21, of Sumter.
Authorities say Dominic La Shaun Lyde, 22, of Darlington, is current being sought. Authorities say he's wanted for armed robbery, kidnapping and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
The sheriff asked anyone with information on Lyde's whereabouts to call Crimestoppers at 888-559-TIPS.
The armored car company, Express Teller Services, is located on Shop Road. Its website says its drivers service ATMs and banks throughout the Southeast.
They should have stuck to applying for student loans.
How dumb are college students these days? Don't answer that, it is a rhetorical question.
Congressman Billybob
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They will make ten million on the movie rights.
Maybe they got inspired by Alec Guinness’ 1951 “Lavender Hill Gang”. They should have noticed that Alec was caught too.
Drunk, stupid and robbing armored cars is no way to go through life, son.
What a wonderful angle: students. Those “youths” again are involved in mischief.
BUMP to find
A old friend of mine sells cars at the Infiniti dealership up the road from where I work. I emailed him the link to this story on the WIS webpage and asked “Did you by any chance sell a car to one of these Einsteins?” I won’t share his response—it would get me banned.
Vic, you and your crew get on it!
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