Three men suspected of robbing a woman at gunpoint outside a bank made their first court appearance on Thursday.
Cleophas Smith, 30, Michael Pratt and Roberto Moxey, both 20, stand accused of robbing Sharlene King of $1,800 on March 17.
According to police, King was held up outside a bank in Westridge by a lone gunman. The robber escaped in a white SUV that police on patrol spotted in Jubilee Gardens.
The vehicle crashed during the subsequent police chase and the men allegedly shot at police as they tried to escape. In the process, police shot Moxey.
Smith, Pratt and Moxey are accused of the armed robbery of King. They are also charged with possession of two handguns and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
They are also charged with the armed robbery of Scott Jupp, who was robbed of his white Suzuki SUV and a watch, worth $150, in Elizabeth Estates. Police believe that Jupp’s vehicle was used as the getaway vehicle in the armed robbery of King.
Smith, who is represented by Alphonso Lewis Jr., said he was at home in compliance with his bail curfew when Jupp was robbed.
Additionally, Pratt is charged by himself with the February 3 armed robbery of Brendan Ginns.
Ginns was robbed at gunpoint of $12,000 by a man whom prosecutors say is Ginn.
The men were not required to enter pleas to the charges when they appeared before Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr.
Bail was denied and they return to court on May 30 to receive a voluntary bill of indictment.
