Memphis residents can breathe a little easier as the duo behind a city-wide robbery spree is now behind bars. According to a post from the Memphis Police Department's Facebook page, Tarus Johnson and his girlfriend, Charecia Alexander, were arrested after a coordinated investigation by several law enforcement agencies. Over the past several months, these individuals were implicated in a series of "snatch-and-grab" style robberies primarily targeting chain stores like Walgreens, Dollar Tree, and Dollar General.
The suspects were finally apprehended on Thursday, April 3, when members of the Safe Streets Task Force located their blue Chevrolet Cruze, which police say was reported stolen in February, at the Rodeway Inn on Linden Avenue. With the aid of the Auto Theft Task Force and the Bartlett Police Department Crime Suppression Unit, Johnson, 38, and Alexander, 35, taken into custody, had a wide array of charges awaiting them. Johnson was hit with Robbery, Theft of Property of an Automobile ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, and additional warrants including Aggravated Robbery and Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun, as detailed by the Memphis Police Department.
Charecia Alexander faces charges of Aggravated Robbery, Intentionally Evading Arrest in an Automobile, Robbery, and Theft of Property of an Automobile $2,500-$10,000. The Memphis Police Department post detailed the development of the investigation and listed multiple report numbers related to their spree. It serves as a clear illustration of law enforcement's commitment to piecing together the puzzle of a complex criminal campaign, and bringing it to an anticipated end.
