Valley robbery suspect arrested in S.C.

Staff report

Boardman

Photo

Robert M. Barnes

A 29-year-old man accused of robbing two Boardman stores was arrested late Monday by U.S. marshals in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Robert M. Barnes traveled about 700 miles in the gray Dodge Caravan that police say he stole from a Brown’s Drug Store customer Tuesday morning.

A 74-year-old customer was held at knife point at the Southern Boulevard drugstore, with a man taking cash, OxyContin and Vicodin before stealing her car.

Barnes is also a suspect in the early Thursday robbery of Circle K, 7103 Lockwood Blvd., where he is accused by police of stealing $41 in dollar bills and the cashier’s wallet and Buick Park Avenue.

The vehicle and wallet were recovered later that morning.

Boardman detective Sgt. Glen Riddle received a call Monday from Barnes’ family, saying Barnes had contacted them for money.

The family refused and told Riddle that Barnes still had the van and was in Myrtle Beach.

Riddle contacted North Myrtle Police Department, which found the van. Barnes escaped and was later accused of carjacking a female victim at knife point, taking her Toyota Avalon.

Barnes then robbed a CVS drugstore, police said — again holding a female victim at knife point and demanding narcotics.

Myrtle Beach police spotted the Toyota after the CVS robbery and pursued him. Barnes crashed the Toyota into oncoming traffic and fled on foot into the woods.

Officers from Horry County, S.C., arrived with helicopters and police dogs for the search.

Barnes went to a home about three miles away from the car crash and asked residents for water.

The residents detained him until he was arrested by U.S. marshals.

Barnes was taken to Horry County jail and likely will be charged federally with a Hobbs Act violation, a carjacking connected with multiple robberies in several states, according to authorities.

When he returns to Boardman, Barnes will face two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of auto theft and two counts of kidnapping, Riddle said.