Pair charged with robbing gas stations

VW independent/submitted information

PAULDING — Two Defiance men have been arrested and charged with the Charloe Gas Station robbery, while at least one of the men is implicated in two other robberies, according to the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.

Russell Lee Hutchinson, 36, and Rodney A. Heath, 45, were arrested in conjunction with investigations by the Paulding and Defiance sheriff’s offices and the Defiance Police Department, following their alleged confessions that they robbed the Maramart convenience store in Cecil on December 11, 2015.

This photo of the suspect was taken on a security camera at the Charloe Store Gas Station on Saturday evening. (photo submitted) — **This photo of the suspect was taken on a security camera at the Charloe Store Gas Station on April 30.** (*photo submitted)*

Investigators from the three agencies followed tips they received regarding robberies at the Charloe convenience store and American Food Mart in Defiance, which both occurred April 30. While following leads in those robberies, information was also discovered linking Hutchinson and Heath to the 2015 Cecil Maramart robbery.

During an interview with investigators from Defiance and Paulding sheriff’s offices, Hutchinson confessed to his involvement in the Cecil robbery, while Heath confessed to his involvement in the Cecil and Charloe robberies during an interview with Defiance police investigators.

Hutchinson was jailed on one count of aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree, in connection with the Cecil robbery, while Heath also faces one count of aggravated robbery in connection with the Defiance robbery.

Paulding County authorities will present cases related to the Cecil and Charloe robberies to the Paulding County Grand Jury on Thursday, May 12.

Paulding County Sheriff Jason K. Landers said that anyone with information on any of the three convenience store robberies, as well as any other case, can call the sheriff’s office at 419.399.3791, leave information on Facebook on the “Paulding County Sheriff’s Office page, or leave an email or an anonymous tip by accessing the department’s website at www.pauldingohsheriff.com. Anonymous tips can be left by scrolling to the bottom of any page and clicking on the “send us an anonymous tip” link.

POSTED: 05/06/16 at 3:41 pm. FILED UNDER: News