Police Accuse 4 In Robbery Involving Illegal Weapons

WAWAYANDA, NY — Four people in Orange County were accused of participating in a robbery that involved illegal weapons.

The New York State Police said troopers were sent around 3:30 p.m. Friday to the Gulf gas station at 249 Dolson Ave. in the town of Wawayanda for a report of a robbery.

The preliminary investigation found that two men had forcibly taken about $200 worth of items from the store and fled in a dark-colored BMW.

About 20 minutes later, officers located a car matching the description of the one used during the robber, police said, on Wisner Avenue in the city of Middletown.

After speaking with the occupants of the BMW, police said it was determined that two of them matched the description of the robbery suspects.

Further investigation led to the seizure of two illegally possessed handguns that were found in the car, police said.

Izayah N. Mansfield, 18, of Middletown, Lacey Kelly, 19 of Middletown, Joi D. Higgs, 25, of Bronx, and Kalif A. Cox, 25, of Middletown, were all charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony.

Mansfield, Kelly and Higgs were also charged with second-degree robbery, a felony.

All four people were arraigned and sent to the Orange County Jail in lieu of bail with return court dates for the City of Middletown Court and the Town of Wawayanda Court.

State police were assisted in the investigation by the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the City of Middletown and Town of Wallkill police departments.