What began as an Edinburgh robbery investigation evolved into the discovery of drugs and counterfeit money that put three Columbus residents in jail.
Devon Michael Johns, 24, of 515 Parkway Drive, Columbus, and Jesse Michael Owens, 28, of 161 N. Mapleton St., Columbus, were booked into the Johnson County Jail early Wednesday morning, each arrested on a felony armed robbery charge.
Investigating Edinburgh Police Department Detective David Lutz said three crimes were committed during the robbery — residential burglary while armed, a Level 2 felony; robbery while armed, a Level 3 felony; and interference with reporting a crime, a misdemeanor.
Felony charges regarding the drugs and counterfeit money could be filed in Bartholomew County, investigators said.
Lutz was sent to investigate a Wednesday afternoon robbery at an apartment in the 100 block of South Walnut St. in Edinburgh, according to an Edinburgh Police Department report.
The male victim who called 911 said when he unlocked his door after hearing someone knocking, one of two suspects kicked it in, Lutz said.
A masked suspect believed to be Owens had a semi-automatic Glock pistol that he pointed at the male victim, as well as two teenage female visitors, according to the probable cause affidavit. He yelled for the male resident and his visitors to give him their cell phones, so they couldn’t call for help, the report said.
The second suspect, identified as Johns, came in unmasked, unarmed, and remained silent, according to the report.
“Owens was the aggressor who was yelling commands and was armed,” Lutz wrote.
Items stolen from the living room included a 12-gauge Meriva pump shot gun, a musket style ball and cap rifle and a black military style air soft rifle that the masked suspect wrapped in a Hawaiian-style button up shirt belonging to the victim, the report said.
When the suspect believed to be Owens got into the victim’s closet, he took out and stole a couple pistols, a tattoo gun and a game system, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Johns took a black hoverboard, a backpack, gas bottles for the airsoft guns and other items, the report said.
As they left the apartment a few minutes later, Johns threw the cell phones on the bed while Owens threatened the three victims that if they called police, he would return and kill them, according to the report.
After police arrived, the male victim told the officer he knew the identities and addresses of the robbers, which prompted Lutz to immediately request Columbus police to send officers to Owens’ residence on Mapleton Street in Columbus.
When officers arrived, they saw a black 2013 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Owens’ wife, Shyann Owens, leaving the house with two male passengers fitting the description of the robbers, according to the report. The SUV was stopped, and everyone in the vehicle was taken to the Columbus Police Department to be interviewed, the report said.
The two suspects gave conflicting information to investigators. Owens denied he was in Edinburgh that day, Lutz said. Shyann Owens told police she saw her husband come home with three long items wrapped in a Hawaiian cloth, but refused to give consent to have her vehicle and residence searched, according to the report.
After obtaining a search warrant, searches turned up many of the items stolen during the robbery, as well as clothing worn by the robbers, the report said.
Several glass jars of marijuana buds, as well as a number of smoking devices, were also found in multiple locations, according to the report. In a top bedroom dresser, Lutz found counterfeit $100 bills, as well as more paraphernalia and marijuana. In the basement, Columbus police officers found an active marijuana-growing operation, the report said.
At that point, the investigation was turned over to the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, Lutz said.
Shyann Owens, 24, was arrested on preliminary charges of counterfeiting, forgery, dealing in marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia, according to Columbus police. She is being held in the Bartholomew County jail on $23,500 bond, jail officials said. The couple’s children were not home at the time and are staying with other family members, Lutz said.
Meanwhile, Jesse Owens and Johns were taken to the jail in Franklin. Bond for each man was set at $40,000 there, jail officials said.