Police tie robbery suspect to earlier coffee-stand theft - October 23, 2004

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2004-10-26

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44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, October 26, 2004   Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery   SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion - Politics   Tempo   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   SPECIAL SECTIONS   Since We Asked   Outdoor Journal   Menu Guide   How To Guide   Wellness Connection   Readers' Choice   Real Estate Showcase   Joy Magazine   Homelife Magazine   Wedding Guide   Passport to the Rogue Valley   EXTRA   Newspaper in Education   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad  eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities   Entertainment   Publications   Recreation   Calendar   CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit   Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 23, 2004 Police tie robbery suspect to earlier coffee-stand theft By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Police say a man jailed in connection with a June home-invasion robbery in Talent is the same person who held up a Jacksonville-area coffee stand a few days earlier. Mario Roshun Vital, 24, of Oakland, Calif., was arraigned Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court on charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree theft in connection with a June 18 incident at a Dutch Bros. coffee stand in the 2800 block of Jacksonville Highway. Vital allegedly went to the coffee stand at about 10 p.m. and struck up a conversation with the 16-year-old female clerk before pulling a silver handgun on her and demanding money from the cash register, Jackson County sheriff’s Det. Dan Hobbs said. The robber then told the girl to lie down on the floor "and don’t be a hero," Hobbs said. After the man ran from the scene, the clerk phoned 9-1-1. Deputies responded to the area but were unable to locate the robber. On the night of June 22, deputies arrested Vital and two other men a few hours after a robbery at a Wagner Creek Road home. A man inside the house was beaten with a tree branch and tied up along with his girlfriend before robbers stole a safe and fled. Two gunshots were fired inside the home, possibly from the same weapon used in the Dutch Bros. robbery, Hobbs said. Advertisement Also arrested in the Talent robbery were Al Lamont Daniels, 26, and Brian Keith Yancy, 27, both of Ashland. After their arrest, police realized the general appearance, age and the silver handgun of one of the Talent robbers bore a resemblance to the coffee-stand robbery, Hobbs said. The Dutch Bros. clerk was called to the sheriff’s office, where she identified Vital from a line-up as the person who held up the coffee stand. Vital and Yancy have already pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted aggravated murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping and several other felony charges in connection with the Talent robbery. Daniels, who police say remained outside the home during the Talent incident, has entered not-guilty pleas to charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives  |  Site Map   E Southern Oregon  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback   ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities