By Staff
A report of an auto theft after a party in Hartselle led to the arrest of the man who made the claims.
Adam Dwayne Lucas, 22, of 4 Oxmoor Flint Road SW Apt. E-6 in Decatur and Ira Joe Harris Jr., 20, of 1640 County Road 114 in Town Creek, were charged in connection with a string of armed robberies of pizza delivery drivers last week.
Police began investigating Lucas and his roommate, Harris, after Lucas reported his 90s model gold Chevrolet suburban had been stolen after he attended a party in Hartselle. Lucas claimed his vehicle had been stolen from the parking lot of his Decatur apartment complex after he went to a party with several people he did not know. Lucas said he blacked out while at the party, awoke later at his apartment in Decatur and discovered his vehicle was gone.
The same vehicle was reportedly involved in several recent robberies of pizza delivery drivers. The first occurred Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. when a delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint outside the Studio Nine Motel on Johnston Street. He was robbed by a black male wearing a ski mask who fled in a gold Chevy suburban driven by another black male.
A similar robbery was reported Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. at the Albany Landing Apartments. Also on Jan. 2, a carjacking and robbery involving the gold suburban were reported in Moulton. Then, a home invasion robbery involving the vehicle was reported in Franklin County.
The suspects had been spotted by Franklin County deputies and pursued. They eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
The next day, Lucas called to report the vehicle had been stolen.
After questioning by the Decatur and Moulton police, Lucas was charged with two counts of first degree robbery and filing a false police report. Harris was charged with two counts of first degree robbery.
Lucas’ bond was set at $20,500. Harris’ bond was set at $20,000.