Prosecutors formally charge Metro PCS robbery suspect

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Prosecutors have formally charged a man accused of robbing a Texarkana, Ark., Metro PCS store who later tried to pay his phone bill at a Texarkana, Texas, Metro PCS store several hours later.

Rolston Jerome Lockett Jr., 26, is facing 10 to 40 years or life in prison if found guilty of stealing $402 at gunpoint from the Metro PCS at 809 East Street in Texarkana, Ark., July 24. Lockett is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and faces five to 20 years if convicted.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Lockett entered the East Street location of Metro PCS at about 5:25 p.m. the evening of the robbery but left without completing a transaction. Lockett allegedly returned about 20 minutes later with a handgun. Surveillance footage of the robbery, which captured video and audio, were used by investigators to identify Lockett as a suspect. Store employees showed officers photos of a man, identified as Lockett, on Facebook the following day they claim to be the man that robbed them.

Texarkana, Ark., investigators learned the day after the robbery of contact between Lockett and Texarkana, Texas, police which occurred shortly before 9 p.m. July 24, just several hours following the Arkansas-side hold-up. Texas-side police responded to a parking lot on Richmond Road in Texarkana, Texas, where a Metro PCS store is located, in response to a disturbance.

Lockett allegedly told the Texas officers he and his girlfriend were at the Texas store to pay their phone bill. Texarkana, Texas, police officers patted Lockett down during their contact with him and the incident was captured on an officer’s body camera. One of the Texas officers told Arkansas-side investigators that he noticed Lockett’s wallet was bulging with cash.

Video from the robbery and from Lockett’s contact with Texas-side police were compared and a warrant for Lockett’s arrest soon followed. Investigators acquired a search warrant for a motel room where Lockett was staying on State Line Avenue and items seen in both videos, including the gun and clothing worn by the robber, were allegedly recovered.

Lockett is being held in the Miller County jail with bail set at $100,000.

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