SAVANNAH, GA (April 4, 2011): Teamwork enabled Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police to arrest a 20-year-old Savannah man for two armed robberies and other charges this weekend.
Markeace Lamar Shields of the 100 block of Leefield Drive was arrested Saturday morning by Southside Precinct officers, Neighborhood Task Force undercover officers and SCMPD detectives for armed robberies that took place in the same area March 24 and 30. He also has been charged with obstruction by fleeing and cruelty to children.
Patrol, detectives and undercover officers had worked with the Savannah Area Regional Intelligence Center, a division of SCMPD, to develop a matrix after the two robberies in which a man dressed in black had used a black pistol in two robberies.
NTF officers had the area near the Dutchtown Villas on Dutchtown Road under surveillance Saturday about 8:30 a.m. when they saw Shields walk out of a wooded area dressed in black. The suspect began to run but gave up quickly when he realized how many officers were near him. He was carrying a BB gun resembling a black semi-automatic pistol.
Robbery charges were filed after victims from the two robberies identified him. Police later determined he had left twin 2-year-old children alone in his residence.
Sgt. Laprentice Mays, head of the robbery division of the Criminal Investigations Division, praised the teamwork by the various divisions that led to the arrest. “It was a textbook example of how good police work and collaboration help us make this a safer community,” he said.
The first robbery occurred March 24 just before 10 p.m. when a 45-year-old man and two women age 46 and 20 were walking North of Apache Avenue from a movie theater on Shawnee Street. They said a man walked out of a wooded area, pointed a black pistol at them and demanded their cell phones before running away.
On March 30, a 28-year-old women reported she was getting out of her car at her apartment in the 1100 block of Mohawk Street about 8:20 p.m. when a man with a black gun in his waistband took her purse. Before running away he apologized and told her to get into the apartment before she was hurt.
Detectives are investigating any possibilities Shields may have been involved in other crimes.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). In the body type, include “CStop2020” plus the tip. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
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