Tuesday afternoon at about 4:30 p.m., officers were called to the Family Dollar Store at 1628 18th Avenue South concerning an armed robbery. Witnesses reported that a lone male suspect entered the store and attempted to purchase a pack of gum with a credit card that was declined.
He then brandished a pocket knife and threatened to stab the two clerks if they did not give him money from the register. The clerks complied and the suspect then fled from the store.
Then at about 7:05 p.m. that evening the same suspect entered the convenience store at 1000 Dr. M.L.K. Street North and again produced a knife which he used to threaten the clerk. The clerk apparently struggled with the suspect who managed to take the clerk’s cell phone and some lottery tickets before fleeing store.
Lastly at approximately 7:10 p.m., the same suspect approached a woman customer inside of the Walgreens Pharmacy at 875 Dr. M.L.K. Street North and attempted to rob her of her purse at knife point, but was unsuccessful and fled the store.
After reviewing the various store surveillance videos, officers recognized the suspect from prior contacts and were able to positively identify him as 25 year old Steven Leacock.
At about 3:30 p.m. this afternoon, detectives with our CASE Unit spotted Leacock in the area of Round Lake Park at 7th Avenue North and 5th Street and took him into custody with incident. The knife used in the robberies was recovered.
Leacock is charged with two counts of armed robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery.
