Arrests in robbery cases


On Wednesday, November 15, Detective A. D. Simmons arrested Bradley Ellis, 20, of 21 Joshua Lane in Henderson.

Simmons arrested Ellis in Fayetteville, North Carolina, without incident.

Agents of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force have assisted the Henderson Police Department with the ongoing investigation, and were instrumental in advancing the investigation to identify, locate, and arrest Ellis.

Ellis was taken before Vance County Magistrate Charlie Baskerville, who ordered that Ellis be confined to the Vance County Jail. As a condition of Ellis’ release, Baskerville ordered that he must post $100,000 secured bond.

Simmons had previously obtained warrents for Ellis’ arrest for his alleged involvement in the October 19, 2006 robbery of Ashley Burwell and Phillip Davis that occured at approximately 1:30 a.m. on McBorn Street in Henderson. The arrest on November 15 stemmed from an ongoing investigation of this incident.

Ellis was also charged with an October 7 breaking or entering larceny that occurred at a residence on Mitchell Street in Henderson.

On December 7, Simmons filed additional charges against Ellis. Ellis was charged with five counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and five counts of conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with his alleged involvement in the October 17 robbery of employees and patrons of the Gateway Barber Shop and Styles at 733 N. Garnett Street. Simmons arrested Ellis for these offenses on December 8 and presented him before Vance County Magistrate Sylvester Bills, who ordered that he remain confined to the Vance County Jail and that he post an additional $250,000 secured bond as a condition of his release.

Ellis remains in custody.

Warrents are also on file for Anthony M. Benson, 20, of Henderson. Benson, who has not yet been arrested, is also charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with his alleged involvement in the same incident that occurred on McBorn Street on October 19. Efforts to locate and arrest Benson have been unsuccessful.

The Henderson Police Department is seeking assistance from area citizens in locating Benson. He is to be considered dangerous. Anyone knowing his whereabouts should contact Henderson police at 252.438.4141 or call 911.

Simmons had previously arrested Derrick Lamar Haywood, 21, of 156 Bobcat Lane. Haywood was arrested on October 25 and charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to committ robbery in connection with his alleged involvement in the October 19 robbery on McBorn Street.