Police charge Newton man with Wal-Mart armed robbery
HICKORY NC Sept 25 2017 – A Newton man was taken into custody and charged Wednesday with attempting to rob a victim at gunpoint in a Wal-Mart parking lot, according to a Hickory Police Department press release.
The incident occurred Sept. 13, with a previous HPD release indicating the suspect “displayed a handgun and demanded money from the victim.”
Joshua Alan Ruch, 32, of Newton, was charged with two felony counts of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and was served additional warrants for two felony counts of trafficking methamphetamine, one felony count of possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with intent to manufacture, and one misdemeanor count of resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer.
Ruch was issued a $225,000 secured bond, and appeared in Catawba County District Court on Thursday.
Erin Olivia Shell, who is often in the company of Ruch, is still wanted on an outstanding warrant for felony larceny of a motor vehicle, according to the release.
Anyone who may have information on Shell’s whereabouts can contact the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551 or Investigator C. De Los Santos at 828-261-2621 or email cdelossantos@hickorync.gov.
