THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 19, 1994 TAG: 9408190591
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
A community-police partnership produced an arrest in a morning robbery by midafternoon Thursday.
Acting on witness identification and tips from the department's crime line, police arrested a 33-year-old Elizabeth City man in connection with a holdup at Long's Jewelers on North Poindexter Street.
Donnell Lathan Overton of the 200 block of East Burgess St. was found in a bed in an apartment near his home about 2 p.m., Capt. W.O. Leary said.
Overton faces charges of armed robbery and breaking into the apartment, Leary said, as well as driving with a revoked license and resisting arrest after an incident Wednesday.
Overton was held on more than $50,000 bond and was scheduled for an initial court appearance Monday.
A man wearing a faded blue bandana on his head entered Long's jewelry store about 9:25 a.m. and pointed a pistol at Sam Long Sr., Leary said.
According to reports, the man said, ``This is a robbery, and I'm not joking,'' and jumped over the counter.
The man took about $400 from a cash drawer and from Long's wallet and his pockets, Leary said, and then ordered Long to lie on the floor for five minutes.
Witnesses told police they saw the man running toward Elizabeth Street.
Witness accounts gave police ``an idea of who it might be,'' Leary said, and officials created a photo lineup, using mug shots.
``Every witness picked out a photograph of the suspect,'' Leary said. ``Even Mr. Long picked out his photograph.''
Police searched Overton's apartment on a warrant and found a photograph of Long's grandson that apparently had fallen from the wallet, Leary said. Police also found a bullet clip from a Glock 9 mm automatic gun.
Overton was not at his apartment but police acted on phoned-in tips and were given permission to search a nearby apartment, where Overton was found.
``The reason I got this case solved so quick was by this department working as a unit and team, doing different chores and canvassing the area,'' Leary said. ``I'd also like to commend helpful and willing witnesses.''
Alone in a holding cell later Thursday, Overton apparently fell and appeared briefly to be unconscious, Leary said. But he later awoke and, after evaluation by Emergency Medical Services, was not taken to a hospital.
KEYWORDS: ROBBERIES ARREST by CNB