Two Reports of Armed Robberies in Athens, Ga.

At approximately 4:30pm on September 28 officers responded to a report of an armed robbery that had occurred in the vicinity of Broad Acres and Ruth Street, in Athens. Officers met with a man from Linda Avenue on Ruth Street. The man said he had been riding throughout the day in late model silver sedan with three other men who were known to him. At one point, one of the three produced a handgun and robbed him of $130. The suspects then forced him out of the car on Ruth Street near North Avenue and drove away. The suspects were identified and warrants were issued for their arrest. Detravious Terrell Mattox, 18, was later arrested and charged with Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime. The investigation continues.

Around 6:15pm on September 28 officers responded to the Exxon station at 1650 Commerce Road to investigate another report of an armed robbery. Officers met with a man from Pine Bluff Road who said he went to that location to buy a CD player from a person he claimed to have known. A short time later the suspect arrived in a four door, silver sedan. He was accompanied by a second man whom the victim did not know. The man said the unknown man stayed in the vehicle and the suspect got in his car. At one point while negotiating over the CD player, the suspect produced a handgun, pointed it at him, and robbed him of his keys, wallet, and a cell phone. The suspect and unknown male then left in the silver sedan.

Note: Police are continuing to actively pursue substantial leads in both of the aforementioned armed robberies. Part of this probe will be to positively identify the person(s) involved, and to determine whether these crimes are related, or whether they are completely independent of each other. Additional arrests are anticipated. In both instances the victims had a prior relationship with their assailant(s). National statistics indicate that persons engaging in high-risk behavior or lifestyles are more likely to become a victim of a crime.