A highway robbery in Buford ended with a swift arrest on Friday due to quick police action. A man whose car had broken down while changing a tire was held at gunpoint and robbed of $12,000. Gwinnett County Police responded to an alert, arresting 28-year-old Johnny Roque of Sugar Hill. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that after the suspect demanded a ride and the driver refused, he "produced a weapon, a handgun and placed it on his lower back," as related by Cpl. Juan Madiedo of the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Roque allegedly told the victim to move toward the woods before robbing him. AccessWDUN noted that the victim's niece had flagged down an officer to report the crime. The perpetrator had then taken an bank envelope from the victim's pocket that contained the cash proceeds from a recent vehicle sale. A perimeter was set up by the officers, facilitating Roque's capture when he was seen walking near the interstate.
The apprehension was a combination of vigilance and technology, as body cam footage revealed the arrest. Madiedo told FOX 5 Atlanta, "We were able to apprehend the suspect in about 30 minutes." Roque matched the description provided by the victim, and he was found in possession of an amount of cash that matched the sum stolen.
In a sequence of events that highlighted the importance of quick law enforcement, the victim received back his stolen cash, as confirmed by both sources. Gwinnett County police offered a cautionary reminder to those experiencing car troubles on the highway: call 911 or their non-emergency number for assistance or to ensure protection while waiting for a tow. Roque was transported to Gwinnett County Jail without further incident, the cash was restored to its rightful owner, and the ordeal came to close with a reassuring conclusion for the victim.
