Boardman man faces multiple charges

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A 30-year-old man accused of robbing an elderly woman at knife point will be in court today.

Robert M. Barnes, of Lockwood Boulevard, will face two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of auto theft and two counts of kidnapping, police said.

Barnes was arrested July 26 by U.S. marshals in Myrtle Beach, S.C., after he traveled about 700 miles in the gray Dodge Caravan that police say he stole from a Brown’s Drug Store customer the week before.

A 74-year-old customer was held at knife point at the Southern Boulevard drugstore on July 20, with a man taking cash, OxyContin and Vicodin before stealing her car, according to reports.

Barnes also was accused of another robbery that same week.

Police said a man stole $41 and a cashier’s wallet and Buick Park Avenue at Circle K, 7103 Lockwood Blvd., on July 22.

The vehicle and wallet were recovered later that morning.

Fleeing the township, Barnes traveled to North Myrtle Beach and was later accused of carjacking a female victim at knife point, taking her Toyota Avalon, and then of robbing a CVS drugstore, police said — again holding a female victim at knife point and demanding narcotics.

After a search that included police dogs and helicopters, officers from Horry County, S.C., arrested Barnes, who remained in jail there until this week.