Two Arrested in Connection with Armed Robberies
(600 block of E. White Street)
Champaign police have arrested two people in connection with two armed robberies that occurred in the 600 block of E. White Street on February 9, 2014.
At 6:18 PM, Officers received information that a man and woman were robbed at gunpoint by two males who stole the victims’ cell phone and a backpack containing a laptop computer. The victims reported walking into the courtyard of the apartment building where they were robbed. The suspects were spotted leaving the area in a Lincoln Town Car.
Police received a description of the suspects and vehicle and a short time later, a University of Illinois Police Officer located the Lincoln Town Car, along with Champaign Officers, in the 600 block of University Avenue. A felony traffic stop was performed and all five of the vehicle’s occupants were detained. Two males, who matched the suspects’ descriptions, were occupants of this car. During a search of the vehicle, a loaded revolver and the stolen property were found in the vehicle
DEREK D. COX, 20, of Urbana, and a 17 year-old juvenile, of Chicago, were both arrested. Cox was transported to the Champaign County jail and the juvenile was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center.
At 6:35 PM, officers received a second report of a robbery attempt. Police later determined that this crime was related the first robbery and that it had also occurred in the 600 block of E. White Street. Both suspects, who were arrested in connection with the first robbery, were also identified as suspects in this robbery. The victim stated that his wallet was not stolen by the suspects, since it did not contain any cash. Both suspects were arrested for two counts of Armed Robbery.
During the traffic stop, an uninvolved sports utility vehicle struck the side mirror of a pick-up truck. This same driver then drove past a Champaign Police Officer and struck him with its passenger side mirror, spinning him out of the way. The Officer was treated at Carle Hospital for minor injuries and immediately returned to duty.
The driver in this accident, JEFFREY J. TAYLOR, 31, of Urbana, was arrested by the Urbana Police Department, for Aggravated Driving Under the Influence (File #UR14-0738).
Champaign Police arrested the car’s passenger CHARLES MEEKS, 29, of Champaign for Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance (30 grams of a controlled substance) and Obstructing Justice. Meeks also had an outstanding warrant.
Case #:CH1401107, CH1401108, UI1400225