LUCAS, Ohio — The Richland County Sheriffs Office reported this morning that the suspect in the robbery at Morgan’s One Trip Marathon Station in Lucas was been charged with Aggravated Robbery.
Deputies apprehended Cody T. Christian, 22, of Lucas, Tuesday evening after the sheriff’s K-9 unit tracked him to a Lucas residence. Christian was charged following further investigation.
According to a press release from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, at 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, dispatch received a complaint of a suspicious person wearing a red ski mask walking in the area of the Marathon Station at 244 W. Main St., Lucas.
Shortly after that, dispatch received a report that a robbery was in progress at that location.
Deputies responded to the area and found the suspect had already left the area. Deputies immediately set up a perimeter around the business in an attempt to locate the suspect based on the clothing description given by the employee of the store.
Marathon employee Stacy Baker had just closed the business and walked to her vehicle when the suspect approached her. He opened her driver’s door and forced her at gunpoint out of the vehicle with her keys. The suspect then ordered her to open the door of the business and forced her back into the Marathon station with him, where he then forced her to turn over the money secured in the store.
Deputy Jeff Frazier of the sheriff’s K-9 unit tracked the suspect to an address on State route 39. Upon arrival at the residence and finding one of the residents unaccounted for, deputies set up surveillance.
Deputies observed a vehicle dropping the suspect off at the residence. Additional deputies then responded to the residence and located Christian inside.
Upon identifying him as the suspect, deputies discovered there was an outstanding warrant for him. Deputies also located cash and other items that linked the suspect to the armed robbery.
Christian was transported to the Richland County Jail pending charges. The case is will be presented to the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon praised the K-9 unit for its rapid and effective response to such a serious crime.
Note: Story updated with suspect and charges identified.
