BENSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
303 EAST CHURCH STREET
BENSON, NC 27504
TELEPHONE 919-894-3616 FAX 919-207-1993
- - -PRESS RELEASE- - -
January 29, 2007
On January 26, 2007, at approximately 3:35 PM, an Armed Robbery occurred at the Emory Miller Insurance office, located at 101 East Main Street in Benson. One Black Male subject entered the business, produced a knife, and demanded money from the employees. After threatening them at knifepoint, the suspect obtained a bank bag filled with cash and checks, and he then locked the employees in a restroom. Before leaving the business, the suspect took one of the employee's handbags, and then fled from the area.
Several Benson officers performed an immediate search of the surrounding areas, but the suspect was not located. The employees described the suspect as a Black Male, approximately 5"6" tall, with a Medium build, in his early 30's. He was said to be wearing a Blue Denim Jacket/Overshirt, Blue Denim pants, and a Black Knit toboggan on his head.
During the subsequent investigation, conducted by Lt. Greg Percy, with the assistance of Det. Jimmy Thrower and Chief Kenneth Edwards, the handbag and the bank bag were located and recovered in Dunn. Numerous leads were followed up on, and on 1-28-2007, a positive identification was made of the suspect.
At approximately 10:00 PM on 1-28-2007, Lt. Percy obtained warrants charging Rodney Alexander Crosby (DOB 8-17-1967) of 4968 Wall Street in Linden, NC, with two counts of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, and two counts of Second Degree Kidnapping. Crosby is currently in custody in Lee County on several other Robbery charges, and the additional warrants will be served on him there.
Crosby has a prior history of Armed Robbery, and he is currently a suspect in a string of robberies that have occurred in Dunn and Coats over the last month.
Chief Edwards would like to express his appreciation to the Sanford Police Department for their invaluable assistance in this case, and also to Lt. Percy and Det. Thrower for their tireless efforts to solve this crime, and arrest the person responsible.
For additional information regarding this incident, please contact Chief Edwards at 919-894-2091. A photo of Crosby is available from the Benson Police Department.