Two arrested in Taco Bell robbery

GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville man and woman have been arrested in connection to a robbery last week in the Browns Bridge Taco Bell parking lot.

27-year-old Brian Dwanye Ferguson faces two counts of armed robbery, one felony count of theft by taking and one count of obstruction of an officer. His accomplice, 34-year-old Mandy Leanne Howard, faces two counts of armed robbery and one count of providing false statements.

Ferguson, according to Sergenat Mark Mitchell, robbed two people in a car at the Taco Bell. "An unknown male subject, armed with a weapon had approached an occupied vehicle parked just outside the restaurant," said Mitchell. "And before the unknown subject fled on foot, he demanded money and other valuables from the occupants."

Mitchell said Howard, the accomplice, gave initial investigators false statements. "What we're given to understand is that she lead the [initial] officers astray in their investigation," said Mitchell.

He also said Ferguson refused the initial order from officers during his arrest, leading to an obstruction charge. Afterwards, he complied to officers without further incident.

The case is still under investigation. Ferguson and Howard remain in the Hall County jail without bond.