Three suspects in a violent home-invasion robbery early Saturday in Mountain View were arraigned Sunday afternoon. Each of the suspects now faces seven felony charges.
The bail for the three suspects was initially set at either $100,000 or $150,000 cash, plus a required third-party custodian -- but that changed during the arraignment hearing, when the magistrate noted a new bail statute that applied to all three of their cases.
One by one, Cedrius Carter, 26, Raymond Thomas, 19, and L.C. Shelton Whitlow, 35, stood before the court and listened to the magistrate list off the charges. The trio faces the same counts from robbery, burglary, and kidnapping to multiple assault charges.
These are felony charges, which mean that the new bail statute applies. The magistrate says because there is a presumption that no bail will satisfy the safety of the public, no bail will be set at this time for the three.
The alleged robbery happened early Saturday on the 3300 block of Tarwater Avenue. Court documents say the victim was coming out of his residence when he was confronted by two men who threatened to shoot him if he did not let them into his home. Once inside, charging documents state, they took a safe with about a $1,000 and pistol whipped the victim across the face. Inside the apartment were other adults and an infant.
A third man, who was in a vehicle outside, joined them in the victim's residence.
As the trio fled, police say a witness fired shots at them, rounds were exchanged but no one was struck. Documents say police arrested the three on scene.
“We believe there was a fourth individual who may have acted as a get-away driver and so we're asking anybody who many have information as to the associates of the three persons that were arrested or people who may be bragging about their role in the home invasion, to call Anchorage Police,” said APD spokeswoman Anita Shell.
If anyone has information, the number to call is 786-8900 or Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP.
