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CMPD: Dozen arrested tied to 25 robberies targeting Hispanic community

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Twelve suspects have been arrested in connection with numerous armed robberies targeting the Hispanic community in the Steele Creek area, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officials said Monday.

CMPD said that it has cleared 25 robberies, beginning with one that happened in the middle of July.

Another suspect has been identified but no charges have been filed.

[ALSO READ: Police say armed robber hit Steele Creek fast-food employee with gun]

"With the help of the community and the determination of our detectives and officers, we expect many more cases to be solved in the near future," CMPD said in a news release.

The community has been living in fear.

Victim Luis Espinal said someone put a gun to his head during a robbery.

Carmen Perez said her neighbor was attacked by three men on his way to work.

"Last week we made an arrest of three and recovered a firearm we believe was involved in several of those robberies," CMPD Capt. Brian Sanders said.

The Police Department thanked the community for its assistance in making the arrests.

"Lots of arrests," Sanders said. "Lots of cases closed. Lots of victims who have closure in their particular case and hopefully some prison time coming out of this for a lot of people.

The suspects arrested are:

  • Isaiah Jones
  • Antwan Martino
  • Malachi McDuffie
  • Cristian Martinez
  • Tiran Mackin, David Beltran
  • Vladimir Lynch
  • Drequille Snow
  • Shahquan Cureton
  • Joshua Threatt
  • 14-year-old juvenile
  • 15-year-old juvenile
  • One suspect identified but not yet charged

Channel 9 dug into the past of one of the suspects we've reported on before.

Threatt has been arrested more than a dozen times in the last three years. In July, he was arrested for armed robbery and conspiracy.

Police said he is one of 13 different suspects ranging in age from 14 to more than 40 charged in this string of robberies.

Police said the suspects were often working together in groups of two or three.

"We have two different groups, is what we've identified so far. One of the groups being a little bit bigger, six to seven people," Sanders said. "They would split and go do their own sprees, but they were associated with each other.  And then the third group was actually a pair, and they did a significant amount themselves."

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