Police Standoff Ends With Alleged Armed Robbery Suspects
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A standoff with Dallas police and a group of men who could be connected to a number of early morning armed robberies has ended.
Police took three people in for questioning after surrounding an apartment complex on La Prada Drive, near John West Road, in far East Dallas. Officials later said the three men detained are "good possible suspects" in the rash of armed robberies. The trio voluntarily surrendered, and walked out of an apartment with their hands up.
Police had been focusing on a second floor apartment where they saw one of the suspects enter. After taking the men into custody, Dallas SWAT waited for a search warrant, then went inside the apartment and confirmed that no one else was inside.
The incidents began in Garland around 1:45 a.m. when police were called to three aggravated robberies in less than one hour.
In the first two cases, the robber pointed a shotgun at the victims and stole wallets, keys and cell phones. Then at 2:30 a.m. police say men matching the same suspect description used a shotgun to steal a Mitsubishi Montero from a couple outside a 7-Eleven.
Police followed that SUV through Garland and Mesquite and then to the Dallas apartment complex where the driver bailed out. Garland police Lieutenant Pedro Barineau said, "Committing these robberies with shotguns, robbing people at gunpoint, they're dangerous people. We're just grateful they didn't hurt or kill anybody."
As is stands, the three people arrested are only "persons of interest" in the robberies. No one has been formally arrested or charged with the crimes.
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