DATE: Friday, April 18, 1997                TAG: 9704180599

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JUNE ARNEY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   60 lines

POLICE STAKEOUT NETS 2 ROBBERY SUSPECTS NEAR CHESAPEAKE BUSINESS AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN WATCHING A WOODED AREA FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

Police arrested two men carrying masks, gloves and a handgun, apparently on their way to rob a Western Branch McDonald's, during a stakeout this week prompted by a rash of robberies that has plagued several businesses since January.

Cliff Anthony Champagne, 19, of the 3200 block of Granada Road in Portsmouth, and a 17-year-old from Portsmouth were charged Wednesday with conspiracy to commit a robbery and a firearms charge, according to Dave Hughes, a spokesman for Chesapeake police.

Both men, along with another 17-year-old Portsmouth youth, also were charged with robbery and a firearms charge in one of the earlier robberies in the area, Hughes said. Police declined to specify which robbery.

Police, detectives, bike and K9 units had been watching a wooded area in the 3200 block of Western Branch for about a week. Champagne and one of the juveniles were stopped on a path near McDonald's about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hughes said. An investigation led to charges against Champagne and the two juveniles, Hughes said.

``People who have an idea that they're going to be out there committing crimes are never going to know when we'll be watching,'' Hughes said.

Since early January, robbers have hit five Western Branch businesses located within sight of one another. Four of the businesses are clustered together and the fifth is about a half-mile away.

In each case, one or more robbers - sometimes masked - held up the businesses, stealing undisclosed amounts of cash. The crimes occurred at three gas stations, a doughnut shop and a motel.

Police gave the following accounts:

On Jan. 6, at about 10:45 p.m., a gunman entered the Crown Gasoline Station in the 3200 block of Western Branch Blvd. and took money from a cash drawer. He was described as a black male, 20 to 25, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-11 and weighing 140 to 160 pounds.

On Feb. 1, at about 9:25 a.m., two men, one armed with a dark revolver, entered the Super 8 Motel in the 3200 block of Churchland Blvd., jumped over the front desk and took money. Both wore white scarves over their faces. One was described as a black male, about 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, and the other, a black male about 6 feet tall and 150 pounds.

On Feb. 3, at about 11 p.m., a gunman entered the Miller Mart in the 3100 block of Western Branch Blvd. and demanded money from the cash drawer and a nearby cash box. He said, ``Thank you. Have a nice day,'' as he left. He was described as a black male 25 years old, about 5-foot-8 with a medium build.

On March 13, at about 9:30 p.m., three men entered the Dunkin Donuts store in the 3200 block of Western Branch Blvd. and took money. One displayed a black automatic handgun. The only description available was that all three were black.

On March 21, at about 8:45 p.m., a gunman robbed the clerk at the Wilco Food Mart in the 3200 block of Western Branch Blvd. He was described as a tall black male wearing a black coat, a black ski mask and blue pants. He carried a silver automatic.

Anyone with information is asked to call Chesapeake Crime Line at 487-1234. KEYWORDS: ARREST ROBBERY CHESAPEAKE POLICE

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