Man charged in Adrian heists

9/22/2006

ADRIAN - A Toledo man was arraigned yesterday in Lenawee County District Court on charges stemming from two attempted armed robberies within three hours of each other Tuesday night.

Murry Chandler, 32, was charged with three counts of armed robbery, two counts each of using a firearm to commit a crime and firearm possession by a felon, and one count of unlawful imprisonment. He was being held in the Lenawee County jail in lieu of $800,000 bond.

A man with a handgun entered the Fazoli's restaurant at 1368 Division St. about 9:10 p.m. Tuesday, grabbed a female employee, and demanded money, police said. The store manager ran out of the back of the store and called 911, and an employee told the man they couldn't get money without the manager present.

The man fled before authorities arrived. The Lenawee County sheriff's tracking dog helped search for the suspect, but he wasn't found, authorities said.

About 11:44 p.m., police officers were flagged down in the 500 block of Division by two men who said they had just been robbed by a man with a gun. They said they saw him come from a house in the 600 block of Division. Officers went to the home and spoke to Chandler, who was identified by the victims as the man who'd robbed them.

A search of the home found clothing and a handgun believed to have been used in the Fazoli's robbery.

A preliminary hearing in District Court before Judge James Sheridan is set for 1 p.m. Monday.