TROY — Two Sidney residents were arrested Friday evening after allegedly stealing items from another man at the Royal Inn on Brukner Drive in Troy.
Jayleen Branscum, 41, of Sidney, was charged with fifth degree felony theft and possession of a drug abuse instrument. Che J. Riegel, 40, Sidney, was charged with fifth-degree theft from the incident.
Troy police were dispatched to the Royal Inn just before 9 p.m. Friday on the report of an armed robbery, according to Troy Police Department Sgt. Joe Stutz.
Officers on the scene found a male victim, Richard Daniels, at the Shell gas station. Daniels said his wallet, containing his ID and a credit card, along with $500, were stolen from the room he was in at the Royal Inn with Branscum and Riegel, while he was getting his head shaved by Branscum. The 911 caller had reported that a gun was used in the robbery.
Officers, along with units from the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, located the suspects within minutes at Motel 6 on South Dorset. Branscum complied immediately, Stutz said, while Riegel made movements toward his waistband, and since there was a report of a gun involved, officers took cover, and demanded he lay down on the ground. He eventually complied, Stutz said.
As the investigation continued, Stutz said it was learned that Daniels was not the 911 caller, and he did not tell the caller there was a gun involved, the caller had added that information to the call without any knowledge of that being true.
The pair were placed under arrest and transported to the Miami County Jail by Troy police.
A warrant for Riegel’s arrest was issued last week after he failed to appear for sentencing in a burglary case in Shelby County.
As of Sunday afternoon, Branscum remained in the Miami County Jail.
