Court date set for suspect in robberies, police assault

1/9/2013

A 27-year-old central-city man will be arraigned in Toledo Municipal Court tomorrow on charges in connection with robberies outside two West Toledo restaurants last week.

Armon Richardson, of 2921 Parkwood Ave., was arrested late Saturday at Central Avenue and Monroe Street shortly after he rammed his car into a police car and then fled on foot.

He will be charged with aggravated robbery and felonious assault against a police officer after police say he fired shots at a squad car Saturday night while fleeing authorities after allegedly robbing a man outside Jo-Jo's Original Pizza.

Detective Danny Navarre said Mr. Richardson also will be charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of kidnapping relating to the robbery of two women Thursday outside The Beirut restaurant.

Mr. Richardson allegedly robbed Dennis Fielding at gunpoint of about $80 outside Jo-Jo's Original Pizza, 4336 Monroe St., Saturday night around 8 p.m. and fled westbound on Monroe in a Ford Escort.

Mr. Richardson allegedly left his vehicle near Hughes Street and fired several shots at a patrol car being driven by Officer Mark Evanoff, hitting the fender and hood, police said.

Mr. Richardson then fled again in his car, police said.

Officers in at least seven vehicles joined pursuit. On Northwood Avenue, Mr. Richardson's car collided almost head-on with a patrol car manned by two officers.

He fled on foot and was apprehended in the parking lot of a Taco Bell about 8:25 p.m.

Police found evidence that they said links Mr. Richardson to the robbery of two women Thursday in a parking lot next to The Beirut, 4082 Monroe St.

The cousins were handcuffed to each other through the steering wheel of their car when they were robbed by a man wearing a ski mask and brandishing a handgun moments after they left the restaurant, police said.

The women gave the man $85. He asked for jewelry, but the women didn't have any. The man then pulled out a pair of handcuffs and handcuffed the women together to the steering wheel.

The handcuffs were not tightened completely on the women's wrists, and they were able to free themselves. The women were not hurt, police said.