Duo indicted for armed robbery
From left: Kenneth Gregory West and Alvaro Salcedo.
Two men accused of robbing a local convenience store at gunpoint were indicted by a recent grand jury, officials said.
Kenneth Gregory West, 44, 77 Wedgewood Dr., Russellville; and Alvaro Salcedo, 41, 10596 U.S. 43, Russellville, were both indicted for first-degree robbery and second-degree kidnapping, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said.
According to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver, the alleged incident occurred about 8 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2013, at the Cedar Creek Chevron on U.S. 43.
Oliver said two men entered the convenience store wearing Halloween masks and demanded money.
Oliver said the men forced the convenience store clerk into a closet during the commission of the crime.
He said an undetermined amount of money was taken before both suspects fled the scene in a vehicle.
“Surrounding law enforcement agencies were contacted and given a description of the vehicle that the clerk was able to provide and the direction the suspects were headed,” Oliver said.
A short time later, Oliver said a Phil Campbell officer spotted a vehicle matching the description and began a pursuit when the driver failed to pull over.
During the pursuit, Oliver said the suspects threw items from the vehicle before they wrecked on Franklin 63 in Phil Campbell
Halloween masks fitting the descriptions were recovered in the area the items were thrown from the vehicle, he said.
The two suspects were taken to Russellville ER for injuries they sustained during the wreck. They were treated and released and transported to the Franklin County Jail.
“We were thankful that this situation did not end badly,” Oliver said. “Anytime a weapon is involved or a car chase ensues, there is always the potential for the situation to become dangerous and even deadly.
“We appreciated the help of all agencies involved working together to make sure these suspects were apprehended.”
Both defendants are out of jail on bond.
Rushing said Salcedo’s and West’s cases would be placed on the April 22 criminal arraignment docket.
