The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department arrested 65-year old Troy Ware, of Texarkana, Arkansas, Wednesday morning after nearly a year-long investigation of multiple reported armed robberies committed throughout the Texarkana area in 2017.
According to a press release, the Texarkana Arkansas Police Criminal Investigation Division began their yearlong investigation in February of 2017 when the Bancorp South, in the 2200 block of North State Line Avenue was robbed at gunpoint by a person who placed an object in the business door to prevent the door from closing while he held the clerks at gunpoint and took what money he could. Thirteen additional robberies, committed in similar fashion, continued throughout Texarkana during the 11 months since February 17. In one instance, when a store clerk failed to fully cooperate the robber fired gunshots into the business and in the general direction of the clerk. Detectives continued collecting evidence and identified behavior and mannerism characteristics of the robber by watching many hours of closed circuit video, while also conducting surveillance of likely robbery locations in which 36 TAPD Detectives and Officers compiled more than 320 hours of surveillance time at a cost of over $12,494 dollars to the city.

As the robberies continued, Detectives learned the suspect likely had access to several different type cars based on the video camera footage. In one robbery a witness believed she recognized the robbery suspect’s voice as that of a regular customer, Troy Ware. She told a TTPD investigating detective, who relayed that information to Detective Shane Kirkland, of TAPD. Detective Kirkland and Detective Wayne Easley later met with Troy Ware at his used car lot at the corner of E 9th and N. State Line Ave. Detectives Kirkland and Easley made several observations of note while there and later learned of Ware’s prior involvement in four aggravated robberies in California, along with several other felonies from the 70s through the 90s. Detectives sought and received judicial approval for a search of Ware’s cell phone records which revealed consistencies related to the date and times of each one of the fourteen robberies.

On one occasion, in December 2017, a TAPD officer conducting covert robbery surveillance on a nearby liquor store, was sitting near Ware’s place of business when Ware approached him to inquire of his presence. No further robberies were committed following this interaction.

Prepared with these facts, Detective Shane Kirkland presented an arrest warrant affidavit to Prosecuting Attorney, Stephanie Black’s office and to Circuit Judge Carlton Jones, both of whom approved the affidavit and signed an arrest warrant for seven counts of Aggravated Robbery. They also approved search warrants for Ware’s residence and his business.

On Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 TAPD Detectives arrested Troy Ware and charged him with 7 counts of Aggravated Robbery after having to make forced entry into his home in the 500 block of Orleans St., where he hid inside and refused to answer the door. At Ware’s business, detectives located a firearm that matches that viewed from business surveillance cameras and recovered a hidden mask, gloves and other garments consistent with those worn in multiple robberies.

Throughout the investigation TAPD and TTPD Detectives corroborated information, videos, reports, crime location maps, theory and anything else needed to bring an end to these robberies.

Of the 14 reported incidents, the following occurred in Texarkana, Arkansas.
02/16/17 2200 North State Line Avenue – Bancorp South
04/22/17 402 East – Fast and Low
06/09/17 2324 North State Line Avenue – Exxon
10/24/17 1213 East 9th Street – Family Doller
10/26/17 914 North State Line Avenue – Texas Liquor
12/09/17 402 East – Fast and Low
12/12/17 1224 North State Line Avenue- Bottle Shop

TAPD commends every Detective and Officer who made contributions to this case and congratulates them on their excellence and highest standard of police work.

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