2nd arrest made in Winterville Dollar General armed robbery

WINTERVILLE, N.C. - A second man has been arrested in an armed robbery at the Winterville Dollar General.

Police say they arrested and charged Jaquan Chamberlain of Winterville Monday night February 16th incident.

Chamberlain was placed under a $25,000 bond with a first appearance scheduled for Tuesday morning.

He's currently in the Pitt County Detention Center.

Police say no further arrests will be made in the incident.

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WINTERVILLE, N.C. - An armed robbery at a Dollar General store in the east becomes the second store to be hit, this week alone.

"I've been here sine 83 and things have changed a lot."

Terry Davis works across the street from the Winterville Dollar General Store that was robbed at gunpoint around 10 o'clock Thursday night.

Less than 24-hours-later, police arrest 17-year-old Brandon Thompson of Ayden and charged him with robbery with a dangerous weapon.  It’s quick action by police that doesn't surprise Davis.

"The criminal department has been well took care of, there's very little that happens around town," he said.

As Nine on Your Side tracked the crime we found police reports’ showing that wasn’t the only thing Thompson was charged with.  He was also connected to a 911 call made just seconds before the Dollar General was robbed; only this call, police say, was false.

It was an attempt by Thompson to lead police away from the nearby station, less than two blocks away.

Davis says it's not a sign of crime in Winterville, but rather, the tough economy.

“I think it’s a sign of the time, hard times, so you’ve got people out here stressed out to where they want to take that chance,” said Davis.

This, coming just weeks after police nab four suspects in connection to a string of armed robberies a local fast food restaurants across the east, those suspects having yet to go to trial.

Police had to ban together just to catch them.

"I think what's really important to note in that situation is law enforcement came together from all over the region," said Capt. Ted Sauls, Greenville Police.

The two recent armed robberies were both this week and both involved a Dollar General in the east.

Though there is no sign of a connection between this armed robbery and the fast food robberies, it does show the troubling problem police face: as soon as they get control of one crime another seems to pop up.

Other news outlets across the nation report more and more Dollar General Stores have been robbed since January.  Five of those right here in North Carolina.

We called the corporate office for Dollar General multiple times and left voicemails asking them if they were looking into their security policy.

They did not return our calls, voicemails or emails.

As police continue to wrap up the fast food robberies and turn to the Dollar General robberies, they ask we only give them time.

"Now is when the work really begins; now is when things slow down and we have to ask, from the public, give us a little time and one day we will be able to tell you the whole story,” said Sauls.

Thompson is being held under a $25,000 bond.  He's expected in court March 8th.

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WINTERVILLE, N.C. - An armed robbery at a Dollar General store in the east becomes the second store to be hit, this week alone.

17-year-old Brandon Thompson of Ayden was arrested yesterday in connection with the robbery of the Winterville Dollar General on Main Street.

The store was robbed around 10 o'clock Thursday night.

Police will not confirm how Thompson is connected with the robbery.

9 On Your Side will continue to follow this story as it develops.