Police: Man robs 3 businesses, throws money during foot chase

STATESVILLE — On Monday around 9:55 p.m. Statesville police officers responded to the Family Dollar on Shelton Avenue in regards to an armed robbery, according to a release from the Statesville Police Department. It was reported that a black man wearing a black shirt, blue pants, black sandals with white socks, armed with a silver box cutter came into the store and robbed them.

The release said the suspect walked up to the register and demanded money. The employee complied and opened the register. According to police, the suspect reached over and grabbed the money from the drawer. The suspect then left the store walking south in the parking lot. No employees were injured.

Police discovered the suspect had come into the store a few minutes earlier and stole the box cutter that he used to commit the robbery. Officers searched the area and attempted a K-9 track, but the suspect was not located.

Around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to the Sleep Inn at 125 Turnersburg Road in regards to another armed robbery. Officers learned that a black man entered the hotel lobby with a note stating that he had a gun and demanded money.

According to police, the night clerk complied and gave the money to the suspect. The suspect fled the area. Officers attempted to locate the suspect, but were unsuccessful. There were no injuries at the Sleep Inn.

Around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to an armed robbery call at the Red Roof Inn at 1508 East Broad Street. The man again demanded money and said he had a weapon. Police said he robbed the clerk and got into a cab, which pulled away from the business.

Responding officers located the taxi and conducted a traffic stop, at which time the suspect jumped out of the cab and fled on foot into the parking lot of JR Tobacco. Officers pursued the suspect on foot through the parking lot, and eventually apprehended him behind the business.

Police said the suspect threw money at pursuing officers, which was located and recovered.

Police arrested Ricky Shonnel Foote, 26, for the robbery. The Statesville Police Department said the taxi driver was not involved and was unaware of the suspect's actions. No employees at the Red Roof Inn were injured.

After investigating the three robberies and reviewing surveillance video, police identified Foote as the suspect in all three robberies.

Foote has been charged with three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, resist, obstruct and delay, as well as defrauding a taxi driver.

He was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.

WSOC