(Shenzhen, China) – According to a report: GPS tracking devices played in a key role in police quickly apprehending two men suspected of robbing Landmark Credit Union, 6219 Washington Ave., with a gun Monday morning.
Police were able to catch suspects Andrea Ashford, 50, of Racine and Ottoway Murphy, 35, of Racine, within 90 minutes of the robbery by following signals sent by the transmitters tucked in with the stolen money, according to criminal complaints.
The two men were both charged with being party to armed robbery, both with repeat-offender enhancers, Tuesday afternoon, court records state.
The two men entered the bank at about 10:28 a.m. Monday, the complaints state, one man climbing over the counter and putting money into a bag at several cash registers while the other man held a gun and directed patrons and employees onto the lobby floor.
The transmitters were embedded with the money that was reportedly taken and officers followed signals from the locators to an apartment building at 1120 block of Center Street.
After finding clothing reported to have been used during the robbery in a blue Lexus Sedan that was later towed away, police set up a perimeter and began searching the apartment complex, the complaints state. Police from Racine, Mount Pleasant and the Racine County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and several K-9 units were also deployed.
Officers found one transmitter in a first-floor hallway and then encountered Ashford, who walked towards officers and repeatedly ignored orders for him to get on the ground even as at least one officer drew a weapon, the complaint states.
Ashford eventually did drop to the ground without violence and dropped a piece of the second transmitter as he did so.
Police found Murphy in an apartment of his relative, who eventually surrendered to officers without incident. In the apartment, police also found large amounts of money with some wrappings, a piece of a transmitter in a garbage and clothing reportedly worn by the suspects during the robbery, according to the complaints.
The complaints note that Murphy admitted to participating in the robbery, but Ashford has denied involvement.
Both men remained in the Racine County Jail Tuesday evening on cash bonds of $50,000, according to online jail records.
