5 armed robberies near CMU in 3 days

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (WOOD) - Several police agencies in Mount Pleasant are working together to solve five armed robberies that occurred in three days near the campus of Central Michigan University.

There are many similarities to each crime, but the Michigan State Police is not convinced the suspect is the same person in each crime.

The first robbery occurred at 12:05 a.m. Feb. 16 at the Next Door Food Store, 2025 E. Remus Road in Union Township, according to Michigan State Police. A man walked into the business, holding a firearm, and demanded money from the register from the clerk, police said. The suspect was given some cash and fled the scene. He is described as a white male with a dark complexion and dark, short hair. He was clean-shaven at the time and wearing a dark coat and possibly denim jeans. His getaway vehicle was a dark-colored, newer model with a silver-colored grill and lettering. Members of the Isabella County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene.

Then later in the day, members of the Mount Pleasant City Police Department responded to an armed robbery at Advance America Cash Advance, 1717 S. Mission St. in Mount Pleasant. The male suspect entered the business, showed the clerks a handgun and stole some money. The suspect ran from the scene northbound through the parking lot. The suspect is described as a Hispanic or white male, about 30 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, having a medium build, and was clean-shaven at the time. He was wearing a black, knit hat; a puffy, black coat; and black sunglasses.

Then on Feb. 17, the Mount Pleasant City Police Department responded to an armed robbery at Next Door Food Store, 1324 W. High St. A male suspect entered the business, showed clerks a handgun and stole an undisclosed amount of money, police said. The suspect left the business through the front doors and ran northbound. The suspect is described as a Hispanic or white male, about 30 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, and wearing a black, knit hat; a black coat; and black sunglasses.

Then later that night at 10:55 p.m., City Department officers responded to an armed robbery at the Subway restaurant, 203 N. Mission St. A male suspect entered the business, showed clerks a handgun, and stole an undisclosed amount of money, police said. The suspect then left the business through the front doors and drove away southbound in a dark-colored truck or SUV. The suspect is described as a white male with olive skin, a pock-marked complexion, possibly Hispanic ethnicity, about 30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, having a medium build and short hair, and was clean shaven at the time. He was wearing a dark, winter coat; a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt; white or grey jeans; and a baseball cap with earflaps.

Then around 2 p.m. Feb. 18, City Department officers responded to an armed robbery at Check & Cash USA, 100 S. Mission St. A male suspect entered the business, showed the clerks a black handgun and stole an undisclosed amount of money, police said. The suspect then exited the business through the front doors and ran in westward direction. The suspect is described as a Hispanic or white male, about 30 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, and having a thin-to-medium build. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored coat; blue with white stripe athletic pants; a blue and black plaid baseball cap with earflaps; and black gloves.

Central Michigan University notified students through a number of alerts each time a crime occurred.

If you know anything about these cases then you are asked to call Isabella County Central Dispatch at 989.773.1000 or the Mount Pleasant Tip Line at 989.779.9111.