MUNCIE, Ind. -- A Muncie man has been preliminarily charged after he reportedly robbed four businesses in late November and early December, some of which he said he did after ingesting methamphetamine and Percocet.
According to court documents filed on Thursday in Delaware County, 31-year-old Justin Young was preliminarily charged with:
- Four counts of armed robbery, each a Level 3 felony
- Five counts of intimidation with a deadly weapon, each a Level 5 felony
- Five counts of pointing a firearm, each a Level 6 felony
- Two counts of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, each a Level 4 felony
- One count of resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony
- An outstanding Level 4 felony warrant
In the early morning hours of Nov. 21, officers with the Muncie Police Department responded to a Food Mart location on a call of an armed robbery. After an investigation into the incident, a man, which police allege is Young, reportedly entered the store, cocked a firearm and pointed it at the clerk. Young reportedly collected around $800 from the store, along with three cigarette cartons, and left.
The next day, officers responded to a Village Pantry location on reports of an armed robbery. Young reportedly demanded employees give him all the money from the business, around $2,800 in cash, and then left on foot. The documents said that Young was reportedly wearing the same clothing as the first robbery, which was all black clothing with a black mask and black Air Force shoes.
On Nov. 27, officers with the department responded to a business on South Macedonia Street on reports of an armed robbery. The documents said that Young, who was again wearing all black clothing, walked into the business, pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded them empty the cash register.
An employee told police that Young reportedly walked behind the counter, struck the employee on the back of the head with a firearm and told them to give him the money. Young reportedly exited the store with $600 in cash and left in a silver Ford Escape.
A camera search uncovered that a Ford Escape with a personalized plate was in the area of all three of the robberies, according to the documents. Officials said that a criminal history report was conducted on Young that showed prior robbery convictions.
On Dec. 4, officers responded to a gas station on East Jackson Street on reports of an armed robbery. Young reportedly pointed a shotgun at an employee, took $5,000 in cash and fled to a nearby neighborhood.
Later that morning, officers conducted a traffic stop on Young's vehicle at 29th and Macedonia. The vehicle reportedly failed to stop and a pursuit began. After the vehicle came to a stop at East 7th Street and South Shipley, Young reportedly ran west from the vehicle.
After a brief chase, Young was apprehended by police after he was stopped by a fence. After he was placed into restraints, Young reportedly had "a large amount of currency" in his pants pocket and was wearing the same Air Forces he reportedly wore during all four robberies.
In an interview with police, Young reportedly said he had ingested methamphetamine and Percocet before the December robbery. He also reportedly admitted to the other robberies, stating to police he did not remember the one at the Village Pantry "due to him being too high."