Detectives connect man to 35 armed robberies in Charlotte, Lancaster Co.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More charges were mounted against a suspect who is connected to 35 armed robberies in the area, police said on Feb. 27.

CMPD charged Jonathan Gardin for his involvement in several more armed robbery from businesses.

He was recently charged in connection to nine more armed robberies.

Earlier, Lancaster County authorities were the latest agency to charge Gardin and another man in a connection with armed robberies across the area dating back months.

Officials said 34-year-old Gardin and 26-year-old Mandale Huntley were charged for their involvement in several armed robberies.

(Jonathan Gardin, left, and Mandale Huntley, right)

Police said the suspects have been on CMPD's radar since 2017.

"It's been 17 months with no sleep because we don't take these things lightly. I certainly don't and the department doesn't because this is what we do," CMPD Sgt. Brian Scharf said.

CMPD said officers were in the parking lot of a Family Dollar on Valleydale road when they saw a man, Gardin, running from the business carrying cigarettes. Officers arrested Gardin after a short foot chase. Police said they found a firearm and other evidence around the scene.

Police said the initial investigation revealed Gardin had robbed the store at gunpoint moments before officers arrived in the area.

Officers said they found and arrested Huntley, who was driving the "getaway vehicle" nearby.

Detectives said, during the investigation, it was determined Gardin was involved in robberies at three other businesses and Huntley was involved in one other business robbery in the Charlotte area.

"Officer pulls in, sees a slower guy run, chases him and catches him. Low and behold, we get a guy who has committed quite a bit of crime here in Charlotte," Scharf said.

CMPD told Channel 9 earlier in February there is a chance the pair could be connected to close to 40 different robberies throughout the city.

Garden was charged in connection with nine other armed robberies, police said Thursday.

Huntley was charged with his involvement in one other case.

A third suspect, Sergio Patterson, was charged in two cases in Charlotte.

(Patterson)

Garden and Patterson were also charged in connection with three armed robberies, which happened in June and July of last year in Lancaster County.

Back in Charlotte, police said they will be reviewing other open robbery cases and there may be additional charges.

Channel 9 spoke with the assistant manager of the Xpress Mart on Glenwood Drive, which police said was one of the spots hit.

Mohamed Abdelrahmal said he is thankful arrests have been made and hopes it teaches a tough lesson.

"He comes to the store and takes all the money from the register, that's not fair," Abdelrahmal said. "People who make robberies once, they carry a gun and threaten someone's life, they must go to prison."

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for more information.

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