AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - On Tuesday, December 19, 2017 Auburn Police arrested Joseph L. Smith, age 39 & Alton L. Surles, age 44, both from Montgomery on warrants charging them with Robbery First Degree, Burglary Third Degree and Theft of Property First Degree.
The arrests are a result of investigations into two separate incidents; a burglary of a business on December 15, 2017, located in the 3900 block of Cox Road where over $3,000 in merchandise was taken. The second incident was a Robbery that was reported on December 18, 2017, wherein officers responded to an alarm at a convenience store in the 1800 block of W Longleaf Drive. An employee reported that two males entered the convenience store, jumped over the counter and forced her to open the cash register. An undetermined amount of cash and merchandise were taken. Surveillance footage obtained from both incidents revealed a suspect vehicle, as well as two suspects. Further investigation determined the suspects were responsible for both the robbery at the convenience store and the business burglary.
Earlier this morning, December 19th at about 12:20 a.m., an APD Officer on routine patrol observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle on Cox Road and conducted a traffic stop. Smith and Surles, who were both occupying the vehicle, were detained and positively identified from video surveillance. Detectives obtained warrants, charging them with Robbery First Degree, Burglary Third Degree and Theft of Property First Degree. They were taken into custody and later transported to the Lee County Jail where they are being held on a $108,000 bond.
