DOVER, De. - The Dover Police Department and the Delaware State Police say a Magnolia man has been arrested in connection with three armed robberies that occurred July 28 at multiple businesses along South DuPont Highway.
WBOC had learned of two of the incidents previously, and on July 30, DSP released information about another robbery and the connection made between all three.
DSP say the first robbery occurred at a Valero on South DuPont Highway. Troopers responded to the location around 9:00 p.m. for a reported armed robbery. Upon investigating, they learned that an unknown white male suspect, dressed in dark clothing, entered the store with a large knife and demanded money from the clerk. When the clerk was unable to open the register, the suspect stole a pack of chewing gum and fled the scene. No one was injured.
DSP say detectives then learned of two similar robberies that occurred minutes later in Dover.
The Dover Police Department says officers responded to a robbery at a Dollar General on S. DuPont Highway around 9:10 p.m. The suspect reportedly entered the store, displayed what was described by witnesses as a large hunting-style knife, demanded money from an employee, then threatened to stab the employee when he was told the register could not be accessed. Police say he then fled the business with stolen merchandise, but no cash.
Then ten minutes later, around 9:21 p.m., officers responded to D&D Liquors on S. DuPont Highway for another robbery. Police say the suspect kept his hand inside a pocket while claiming it was a robbery, which made the employee believe he was armed with a gun. The suspect then reportedly reached over the counter, stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register, and fled the scene.
Detectives say they determined all three robberies were committed by the same suspect and were able to identify him as Donald Johnson, a 67-year-old man from Magnolia.
Donald Johnson, Courtesy of the Dover Police Department
Johnson was arrested at his home in Magnolia around 10:30 a.m. on July 29. DSP says the arrest was made by the Dover Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service First State Fugitive Task Force.
Police say he was charged with the following and committed to the Department of Correction on a $127,000 cash bond:
- Robbery First Degree – Display What Appears to be a Deadly Weapon (Felony)
- Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
- Theft under $1,500
