Oxford police have arrested two suspects in the April 18 armed robbery of the Heckle & Jeckle Party Shop, located at 27 N. Washington St.
David Alan Hudson, 38, of Pontiac, and Justin Lee Cochran, 19, of Lakeville, were placed in custody after officials received a tip from an Oxford resident about their involvement in the crime.
‘We got the tip and took the ball and ran with it,? said Sergeant Mike Solwold, who headed the case.
The two men are accused of working together to steal an undetermined amount of cash from the party store.
The police report on the case stated that a lone male subject entered the store around 11:45 p.m. armed with a silver handgun. He ordered the store’s female employee to open the cash register and then made her lay face down on the floor. The man took an unknown amount of cash and a green cash box and then exited through the front door.
According to Police Chief Mike Neymanowski, Hudson was the man who actually entered the store, while Cochran assisted him outside.
‘Through tips and follow up investigations we found out there was a look out involved,? said Chief Neymanowski, ‘so we were able to arrest him as well.?
Hudson already has a prior criminal record, including at least one other robbery, and currently had a warrant for absconding from parole. He was arrested on May 2 and arraigned on charges of armed robbery and malicious destruction of police property on April 13. Armed robbery is a felony that carries a possible life term, while the destruction of police property is a four-year felony.
‘He damaged the holding cell while he was here,? explained Neymanowski.
Cochran had a warrant open through the Oxford Village Police Department for minor in possession. He was arrested on May 10 and arraigned on April 12 for armed robbery.
‘I think this success was a combined effort between several of our officers,? said Neymanowski. ‘But it was Solwold’s investigative efforts that led to the final arrests.?