Armored Car Robbers Believed Linked to Two More in Houston Area

HOUSTON, TX -- The four men arrested on Wednesday as they attempted to rob an armored truck during a Houston Police Department sting operation are believed to be connected to the deaths of two armored truck drivers earlier this year, according to court documents released Thursday.

Houston Police shot and killed one of the suspects, later identified as Redrick Batiste, and arrested Marc Hill, Nelson Polk, John Scott and Trayvees Duncan-Bush during the sting operation conducted at an Amegy Bank location in north Houston on Wednesday.

The Houston Police Department used a decoy armored vehicle that held law enforcement officers inside, with SWAT officers on nearby rooftops.

As the truck pulled into the parking lot near the intersection of Imperial Valley Drive and East Sam Houston Parkway, when several armed men tried to rob the truck.

SWAT officers fired two rounds at the men, while officers apprehended two of the four arrested.

Meanwhile, Batiste, who was in a car nearby as the sting was happening, began firing his gun at police and was killed.

According to federal court documents, Batiste headed the crew and recruited the other men to join.

The documents also stated that the crew is suspected in the March 18 death of Melvin Moore and the Aug. 29 death of David Guzman, who were both replenishing bank ATM machines when they were killed.

The four men were in Federal Court Thursday morning on charges of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting use and carrying of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

If convicted the men could face a minimum of 20 years in federal prison for the robbery, officials said.

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