CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested and charged Jonathan Shaird, 22, Wednesday for his alleged involvement in two armed robberies, according to a CMPD news release.
Police said Shaird entered the Taco Bell at 3117 Freedom Drive and demanded money from the business at about 10:10 a.m. Saturday.
PHOTO TIMELINE: Recent fast-food restaurant robberies
Officers said Shaird got the money and exited the business and got into a waiting vehicle that was being driven by a second person.
A short time later, police said Shaird entered the Wendy's at 3300 Freedom Drive and demanded money.
During the robbery, he forced the employees to the rear of the restaurant and fled the business in a waiting vehicle.
There were no injuries reported during these robberies. Still, community members want them to stop and are glad that one suspect is behind bars.
"From working in fast food, that's always a good thing," Nathan Snow said about getting accused robbers off the street. "You don't want that happening to you, and you know the people who it happened to had to have been scared."
Armed Robbery Unit detectives responded to the scenes to conduct their investigation and were able to gather information that identified Shaird as one of the suspects and obtained warrants for his arrest.
Shaird was charged with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon of a business and two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
Shaird was in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Wednesday.
Eyewitness News reported on seven other robberies in the past week similar to these, mostly at area fast food restaurants.
In most cases, the robbers worked as a pair and wore masks.
Police said all those robberies are still under investigation.
Anyone with further information concerning this case or the additional person involved in these robberies is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
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