Police: Suspect in armed robberies left behind cell phone

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man suspected in a series of armed robberies left his cell phone near the scene of one robbery, police said.

Police said Joseph Faulk, 27, was responsible for three recent robberies.

The first one happened early Tuesday morning outside of apartments on Four Winds Drive. The victim told police a man put a revolver to his neck and stole money, investigators said. Officers said they recovered a cell phone nearby that the suspect left behind.

About three hours later, a second victim reported to police that an armed man stole his wallet and cell phone while he was walking to his car on Springset Drive.

Early Wednesday morning, a third victim told police he was also robbed at gunpoint on Springset Drive.

On Wednesday, the phone recovered in the first case was processed through CMPD's Computer Forensic Unit. Police said pictures on it showed the suspect and a gun similar to the one used in the robberies. The phone was registered to a number from Brooklyn, N.Y., police said.

Later that day, detectives stopped a vehicle because of someone with an outstanding warrant, police said.

Faulk was a passenger in the vehicle and was determined to be the man in the photos from the cell phone, officers said. He had a red bandana in his pocket and gun in his waistband, which police think are the items he used in the robberies.

Police said Faulk identified himself in the photos and told them he was from Brooklyn.

He was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed weapon and probation violation.

WSOC