Police arrest 5 in string of robberies

Four men and a woman have been arrested by Texarkana, Ark., Police in connection to a series of robberies.

TAPD's criminal investigation division has been investigating a series of robberies where people have been robbed at gunpoint of personal property, cellphones and money, said Officer Kristi Bennett, spokeswoman for the TAPD.

Details of the three reported incidents are as follows;

• At 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4, a woman reported she had been robbed at gunpoint in the 3300 block of Washington Street while retrieving mail from the complex mailboxes.
• At 6 p.m. Nov. 23, a man told police he was robbed at gunpoint in the 200 block of Relator Avenue.
• At 3 a.m. Nov. 25, a man told police he was robbed in the 4300 block of North State Line Avenue.

"Detectives have been working diligently to identify and arrest these suspects before anyone was seriously injured. There efforts were successful and five arrests have been made," Bennett said.

Kevonte Smith, 19, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm by certain person. Rodrick Vann, 19, was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated robbery, possession of a controlled substance, and breaking and entering of a vehicle. Master Leal Jr., 22, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and breaking and entering of a vehicle. Kiona Easter, 18, was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery. Phillip Cornelius, 25, was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and breaking and entering of a vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is urged to call TAPD at 903-798-3154 or the Texarkana area CrimeStoppers at 903-793-STOP.