Police Department

Downtown Officers Quickly Apprehend Robbery Suspect

Ofc. Stephen Anderson, PIO

Friday, April 30, 2021 at 3:11 p.m.

On April 26, 2021 at approximately 4:30pm, downtown officers were patrolling the 100 block S. Division Street, as that area is a hot spot for criminal activity.

As the officers pulled into the parking lot, their attention was turned to a storefront glass window due to an employee banging on the window in a clear attempt to gain the attention of law enforcement. Officers observed a male exiting the business in a hurried fashion, continuing southeast until he was out of view.

At about the same time, the employee exited the business and told officers the individual who just exited the store pointed a firearm at him. Officers immediately attempted to re-locate the suspect as he was no longer in sight. Officers quickly converged on the last known direction of travel of the suspect. In the process, an individual nearby waved officers down, alerting them that a male had just discarded something in the bushes while pointing in the direction of an individual approximately one block away.

As officers caught up to the suspect in an attempt to detain him pending further investigation, a brief foot pursuit ensued. The suspect was apprehended and detained without further incident. Officers recovered a semi-automatic handgun in the vicinity of scene.

The suspect was identified as Dara Murphy (27 y/o male). He was arrested and charged with 1^st Degree Robbery, two counts of 1^st Degree Assault, and 1^st Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

Murphy is an eight time convicted felon, and is subsequently ineligible to legally possess a firearm.

The felony convictions are as follows:

Attempting to Elude: 2019

Taking of a Motor Vehicle: 2019

Robbery 2^nd Degree: 2019

Assault 3^rd Degree: 2017

Theft 2^nd Degree: 2017

Community Custody Violation: 2016

Retail theft with Extenuating Circumstances: 2016

Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle: 2016

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