A pair of Indianapolis men have been formally charged for trying to rob two Greenwood gun stores.
Devon Warren Tibbs, 18, is charged with two counts of attempted burglary, a Level 5 felony and one count of identity deception, a Level 6 felony. Javanta Tavainy Phillips, also 18, is charged with two counts of attempted burglary, a Level 5 felony, resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony, and operating while never having received a license, a Class C misdemeanor.
Greenwood Police came into contact with Tibbs and Phillips when they allegedly fled the scene of an apparent attempted break-in at Outdoorsman Sport Shop, 1010 S. State Road 135, on Sept. 15.
In light of a recent burglary and attempted burglaries of gun stores, Greenwood Police had been conducting targeted patrols. An officer saw four people outside Outdoorsman wearing black masks and long-sleeved shirts. He activated his sirens and they fled in a car, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson Superior Court 2 Thursday.
The officer pursued the people into the east side of Indianapolis. While the pursuit was ongoing, the officer learned the people had tried to break the glass of the store to get in with a tire iron, the affidavit shows.
With assistance from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the car was stopped and four people were taken into custody — a juvenile male, a juvenile female, Tibbs and Phillips. The car they were in was also reported as stolen out of Indianapolis, and Tibbs was reportedly found with a tool that could be used to steal a car, according to the affidavit.
Tibbs reportedly told police the goal was to steal firearms to sell for money on the east side of Indianapolis. He currently lives with a relative and owes them $800 for rent, an amount he was struggling to pay, the affidavit says.
Greenwood officers also learned that the same individuals were involved in an attempted burglary that occurred at Atkinson Firearms, 1240 Airport Parkway, Suite 3104, in Greenwood on Sept. 14. Tibbs confirmed this, the affidavit says.
Tibbs and Phillips are both on bond for cases in Marion County and Johnson County has notified Marion County of the new charges. Prosecutors also filed a motion for higher than standard bond on the cases filed today in Johnson County, according to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.
These two incidents are unrelated to a robbery that occurred at Greenwood Trading Post, 2801 Fairview Place, Suite A, on Sept. 9. During the robbery, four suspects allegedly drove a stolen vehicle into the front door of the store to gain entry, police said. They were able to steal 16 firearms, the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office said Monday.
A juvenile suspect was interviewed by detectives, which resulted in the juvenile being detained at the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center. One firearm stolen from the burglary was recovered from the juvenile, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors also say it is now believed that two stolen cars were used in the burglary. Two other Indianapolis juveniles are also believed to be involved.
