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OP local mobileCamera leads to arrest of two men
Suspects seen watching elderly man make purchase; his wallet was later stolen.
Friday, April 04, 2008
OXFORD — Hamilton cousins accused of robbing 85-year-old Raleigh Hensley last week were caught on tape leering at the elderly man's wallet as he made a purchase at a West Side store just minutes before the robbery.
The cases of accused robbers Timmy A. Alfred and Mark Collins were turned over to a Butler County grand jury for consideration following a preliminary hearing Thursday, April 3, in county Area I Court. Alfred, 44, of Millville Avenue, is charged with robbery and Collins, 45, of Sunset Drive, is charged with complicity to robbery for allegedly following Hensley, roughing him up and swiping his wallet containing $5,500.
Timmy Alfred
Mark CollinsHensley said he went to Hamilton on Tuesday, March 26, and stopped to make a purchase at Noonan's liquor store. He tripped in the store and two men offered to give him a ride home, which he declined.
But, apparently, Alfred and Collins followed the man home, deputies said.
"When I got out to get the mail, the red car sort of blocked me and they shoved me, trying to get my billfold. I told them, 'you ain't going to get it,' " Hensley said following he incident.
Eventually, the men were able to swipe the wallet and jump in the car, speeding toward McGonigle, Hensley said. He retrieved his gun from his car and fired twice.
Butler County Sheriff's Detective Jason Rosser testified detectives developed Collins and Alfred as suspects through a security tape at Noonan's.
"They were standing behind him, looking over his shoulder while he made a purchase," Rosser said.
The detective said Hensley was able to identify Alfred from a photo lineup as the man who attacked him.
A small red car, which matched the description given by Hensley, was found at Alfred's residence. In the seat of that car, deputies found insurance cards belonging to Hensley, Rosser said.
During questioning by detectives, Collins said they drove to Hensley's residence on Darrtown Road where Alfred got out of the car and after a short time got back into the car with a wallet, Rosser testified.
"He said he (Alfred) had a brown wallet with a wad of cash in it," Rosser said. The detective said when Collins was arrested, he was in possession of a large amount of money.
Collins and Alfred remain housed in the Butler County Jail on $30,000 bond each.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.
