Robbery Suspect Identified, Tracked Down By Ankle Monitor

CHARLOTTE, NC — Police were able to make a swift arrest after a Charlotte business reported a robbery this week, thanks to what the suspect was wearing — an electronic monitoring device.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, an employee of Botanica La Reyna, which is located in the 5000 block of North Tryon Street told responding officers that two men entered the business around 3 p.m. Sept. 10, and stole money.

“As the suspects were trying to leave, an employee confronted them and grabbed one of the suspects,” a CMPD statement about the incident said. “The suspect shoved the victim away and then the suspects ran from the scene. Fortunately, the victim was not injured during the robbery.”

Investigators quickly identified one of the suspects as Keon Hunter, 22, who was wearing a court-ordered electronic monitoring device at the time of the robbery, police said. Hunter was ordered to wear the device after an arrest last month, when he was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting/obstruct/delay and discharging a firearm in the city limits.

“[N]ot only were detectives able to place him at the scene of the crime, he was immediately tracked down and arrested inside another business located just a few blocks away,” CMPD said.

According to police, Hunter confessed to the crime during questioning, and he has been charged with common law robbery and conspiracy to commit common law robbery.

The second suspect in the case has not yet been identified and police said the case remains under investigation. CMPD said anyone who has information about this case is asked to call 911, or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.