Arrests made in series of armed robberies

GAINESVILLE - Three men have been arrested in Thursday's armed robbery of the Hall County Credit Union on Limestone Parkway. One of the men is linked to a series of other holdups over the last few months.

After Thursday's robbery, police say the three men fled in a blue Ford Crown Victoria, which police found abandoned on Meadowlark Lane about a half-mile from the credit union, where the men switched cars, according to witnesses in the neighborhood.

Hours after the robbery, police arrested two Gainesville men, 18-year-old Joshua Collins and 20-year-old Carlos Cobb, who were in a Pontiac Bonneville identified as the secondary getaway vehicle.

"This vehicle was occupied by two black males matching the description of the suspects involved in the armed robbery," said Chief Frank Hooper. "Further investigation of these subjects revealed that they were in possession of a large sum of cash consistent with that taken in the robbery."

Interviews with the suspects led police to a third Gainesville man, 22-year-old James Lamar Chester, whom Gainesville Police arrested Friday morning.

Chester was also charged with the armed robberies of Jelos Tax Service on Auburn Avenue in October and November and charges are pending for his alleged involvement with the September armed robbery of Metro PCS on Atlanta Highway.

"There could be additional charges forthcoming in this case with other suspects," said Hooper. "We've confirmed the ones we've talked about. There was a third robbery this fall at Jelos Tax service that we have not tied them to as of yet."

Location of the Crown Victoria and the Bonneville and the initial arrests were credited to Officer Darin Vogt.

"This case was solved with good old fashioned police work. After this robbery the officers canvassed the area and were able to develop some leads rather quickly," said Hooper. "Within about five hours of this robbery, they were able to take the suspects into custody."

Cobb has been charged with one count of armed robbery.

In addition to an armed robbery charge, Collins was charged with six counts of aggravated assault, and three counts of aggravated assault party to a crime.

So far, Chester received three armed robbery charges and was also charged with seven counts of aggravated assault, six counts of aggravated assault party to a crime, five counts of false imprisonment and one count of misdemeanor possession of marijuana, with further charges are pending.