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According to Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Sheila McLaughlin, the “I-75 Bandits,” Bryan Freeze of Middletown (photo – left) and Wesley Moore of Columbus (photo – right) met in prison. Once released, the two criminals formed a partnership police contend.

Freeze and Moore were arrested last Wednesday, Jan. 19, after having the license plate of their getaway car identified by a witness just moments after they allegedly robbed the Batteries Plus in Liberty Township.

The press release of the arrest showed that the investigation of these accused robbers has produced evidence linking them to multiple aggravated robberies in Butler County since October 2010.

One of the nine linked robberies took place shortly after midnight on Oct. 5, 2010, at the Waffle House located at 7312 Kingsgate Way in West Chester.

According to witnesses, shortly after the robbery took place, two white males entered the business brandishing a shotgun and demanding cash. Before leaving, the suspects forced employees and patrons into the restrooms and then fled on foot in an unknown direction.

Since they were allegedly forced into the restroom, Moore is facing the charge of kidnapping. Overall, Moore, who was also indicted Wednesday, Jan. 26, is facing eight counts of robbery, four counts of theft and six charges of kidnapping.

Freeze, who faces similar charges, is waiting for prosecutors to present his case to a grand jury, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. (more…)

Posted in: Business, Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Batteries Plus, Bryan Freeze, Buter County Sheriff's Office, Butler County Jail, crime, gun, gunpoint, robbery, Waffle House, Wesley Moore

Two men, who robbed the Batteries Plus in Liberty Township, were arrested today, Jan. 19, by investigators of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. The men robbed the store at gunpoint yesterday, Jan. 18, at around 5:15 p.m.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office sent out a press release late this morning that gave information on the robbery itself.

The owner reported two men entered the store. One of the men, wearing a mask, brandished a black handgun, demanding money. The robbery suspects then took the victim outside where the deposit bag was taken from his car. The suspects locked the victim out of the store and fled in a vehicle after taking an undisclosed amount of money.

A witness was able to get the license plate from the fleeing vehicle and passed the information onto the sheriff’s office.

The two men, who were taken into custody, were identified as Bryan Freeze of Middletown (photo – left) and Wesley Moore (photo – right). Moore was located in Columbus, Ohio.

Also, according to the press release, the investigation has produced evidence linking these suspects to multiple aggravated robberies with Butler County since October 2010.

It is not clear at the time which robberies these men are linked to, but recent local robberies include the robbery at Jimmy John’s off Union Centre Blvd. in West Chester on Jan. 8, the Kroger on Tylersville Rd. in West Chester on Jan. 5, the U.S. Bank on Rt. 4 at Liberty-Fairfield Road in Liberty Township and the Waffle Rouse at 7312 Kingsgate Way in West Chester on Oct. 5.

Both suspects have been arrested and charged with aggravated robbery, which is a felony of the first degree.

Batteries Plus is located at 4887 Princeton Road in Liberty Township.

More information to come as it becomes available

Posted in: Business, Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Batteries Plus, Bryan Freeze, Butler County Sheriff's Office, gun, gunpoint, Jimmy John's, Kroger, robbery, U.S. Bank, Waffle House, Wesley Moore

The West Chester Police Department released images of the two suspects, who robbed the Jimmy John’s in West Chester Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 at 8:36 p.m.

The suspects both shown above (click on images to enlarge) are being described as white males, while wearing ski masks, black hooded winter coats and dark pants. One suspect, who is described as being 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10, used a black pistol in robbery. The unarmed robber is being described as 5-foot-10 or 6-foot.

According to the incident report, filed by the West Chester Police Department, the suspects made off with $1,200.

No shots were fired and no was injured during the robbery.

The suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction.

According to the Pulse Journal, the West Chester Police Department is not linking this robbery to other recent robberies.

Recent local robberies include the Kroger on Tylersville Rd. in West Chester on Jan. 5, the U.S. Bank on Rt. 4 at Liberty-Fairfield Road in Liberty Township and the Waffle Rouse at 7312 Kingsgate Way in West Chester on Oct. 5.

The Jimmy John’s restaurant is located at 9239 Floer Drive, which is located off Union Centre Boulevard.

Anyone with information about any of the robberies should contact the West Chester Police Department tip line at 513-759-7272.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: crime, gun, gunpoint, Jimmy John's, Kroger, photos, robbery, suspects, U.S. Bank, Waffle House, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

The Jimmy John’s located off Union Centre Boulevard was robbed Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011. Two suspects robbed the restaurant while brandishing firearms.

According to the incident report, filed by the West Chester Police Department, the suspects made off with $1,200.

The robbery took place at 8:36 p.m.

According to the Pulse Journal, the West Chester Police Department is not linking this robbery to other recent robberies.

Recent local robberies include the Kroger on Tylersville Rd. in West Chester on Jan. 5, the U.S. Bank on Rt. 4 at Liberty-Fairfield Road in Liberty Township and the Waffle Rouse at 7312 Kingsgate Way in West Chester on Oct. 5.

The Jimmy John’s restaurant is located at 9239 Floer Drive.

Anyone with information about any of the robberies should contact the West Chester Police Department tip line at 513-759-7272.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: crime, gun, gunpoint, Jimmy John's, Kroger, robbery, U.S. Bank, Waffle House, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

The Kroger, located at 7855 Tylersville Road in West Chester, was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night, Jan. 5, according to the Pulse Journal.

According to the weekly newspaper, the man remains at large and made off with “bundles of cash.”

The Journal goes into further detail about the robbery itself and describes the suspect.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s with a full beard and red and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and black ball cap, according to reports.

For more information about the robbery, visit the Pulse Journal’s website.

UPDATE – 1/6 at 9:52 a.m. - The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on the robbery this morning

A man held a gun to a female employee and stole cash from a register Wednesday night at Kroger, 7855 Tylersville Rd., store workers said.

The suspect was already gone when West Chester police responded to the store at 9:12 p.m., according to emergency communication reports.

The employee was not injured, and store workers estimate no more than $300 was taken.

Police have not yet released a description of the suspect.

(THIS STORY WAS FIRST POSTED 1/5 AT 11:44 P.M.)

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: crime, gun, gunpoint, Kroger, robbery

Derrick Bryant, 51, of Bond Hill, was arrested and charged late Wednesday, Dec. 1, after he held two of his co-workers at Superior Environmental Services in West Chester at gunpoint earlier in the day.

According Sgt. Matt Tombragel of the West Chester Police Department, Bryant (photo) confronted his boss at Superior Environmental Services, which is located at 9996 Joseph James Place, to complain about his current pay.

“We don’t know the specifics of the pay dispute other than that’s what appears to be the trigger for the confrontation,” Tombragel said.

After the confrontation, Bryant returned to the office with a hunting rifle which was inside his vehicle. According to a report by Cincinnati.com, Bryant held his boss for 20 minutes at around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The argument involved a third employee of the business, who actually helped to calm Bryant down.

“The argument was between the suspect and the supervisor and a third employee, who was present was able to speak to the suspect and calm the situation down,” Tombragel said. “It appears he did a great job in light of being in the middle of a frightening situation.”

Employees of the business called police after Bryant left the scene.

No one was injured and no gunshots were fired at the incident.

Bryant was booked into Butler County jail early today, Dec. 2, and faces two counts of aggravated menacing and one count each of kidnapping and having a weapon under a disability.

Cincinnati.com received information from company president Dean Wallace, who said Bryant has been an equipment operator with the company for about five years and, until now, had a good work record. Wallace went to say that 20 workers were in the building when the incident occurred and that Bryant has been fired.

For more on this story visit Cincinnati.com.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: crime, Derrick Bryant, gun, gunpoint, Sgt. Matt Tombragel, Superior Environmental Services, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department