Donwell

    The armed robbery suspect Meridian Police Department detectives were aggressively searching for Monday apparently discovered the heat was being turned up on him despite the freezing temperatures outside.

    MPD Capt. James Sharpe said around 11 a.m. Tuesday, 18-year old Kirby Donwell of Meridian turned himself in to officers at the Meridian Police Department. 

    Sharpe said Donwell is being charged with five counts of armed robbery. He said Donwell is alleged to have committed robberies at the following locations: armed robbery of an individual in 2900 block of Eighth St. on Nov. 15, The Antique Mall located at 1411 Roebuck Drive on Nov. 16, AAA trophies located at 100 Highway 19 North, on Nov. 16, The Hodgepodge located at 4509 35th Ave. on Nov. 16 and D.J’s Tobacco and Beverage located at 4501 Eighth St. on Nov. 19.

    During the robbery spree, speculation in many corners of Meridian was that the incidents may have something to do with gang activity. Sharpe put that rumor to rest.

    “We don’t have any information Donwell was involved in any gang related activity,” said Sharpe Tuesday afternoon. “As I said Monday, we believe Donwell and Edmond Quintez Mosley, who is facing charges for armed robbery and burglary, were working together in many of the same incidents. But to say it was gang related would be a huge stretch. We don’t have any evidence of that.” 

    After processing Donwell will be held at the Lauderdale County Detention Facility under a $450,000 bond pending further legal actions.

    Sharpe said Donwell will also be charged with the alleged armed robberies of Buddy’s Tune up Service located at 516 31st Ave. on Nov. 22, and John’s Welding Shop located at 1414 Rubush Ave. on Nov. 23. Sharpe said the warrants were scheduled to be signed later today.

    “The investigation process has been done. It is just a matter of signing and putting the paperwork into the file,” Sharpe said.

    The charges against Donwell will be presented to the March 2011 term of the Lauderdale County Grand Jury.

    Sharpe said other “persons of interest” are currently being interviewed by detectives of the MPD. Additional charges are possibly forthcoming on these and other individuals in relation to the before mentioned incidents and/or other robberies, which occurred in the city.

    Sharpe said the arrests of Mosley and Donwell clear up many of the armed robbery cases with the MPD. He said the only other ones still open are Pappa John’s Pizza, Church’s Chicken and the Hungry Heifer. Sharpe said there is a bank robbery case still actively being investigated as well.

    “I’m confident we will see most, if not all, of these remaining cases come to a close in the foreseeable future,” Sharpe said.