Suspect arrested for robbery of 2 businesses in Matthews

MATTHEWS, N.C. — The Matthews Police Department has arrested a man in connection with the robbery of a store on Jan. 5.

Just after 3 p.m. that day, a man was captured on surveillance video entering the Academy Sports on Matthews Township Parkway, picking up some merchandise, and attempting to leave the store. When confronted by employees, the man then gestured and verbally indicated that he had a gun in his waistband, according to police.

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He then walked across the street to Dick’s Sporting Goods on Northeast Parkway, placed more than $1,400 worth of items into a shopping cart, and left the store without paying. He was once again confronted by employees and again verbally indicated that he had a gun concealed in his pants.

There were no injuries reported at either incident, according to police.

Police identified the man as 21-year-old Vidall Angel Velazquez from Charlotte. They took out arrest warrants for armed robbery and took Velazquez into custody on Thursday.

Velazquez is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail without bond.

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