A Florissant man was charged Thursday, May 12, with four felonies for allegedly assaulting and robbing two women outside the Walmart store, 650 Truman Blvd., in Festus.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Cedric E. Husbands, 25, with two counts of first-degree robbery, each one a class A felony punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison, and two counts of armed criminal action, each one an unclassified felony punishable by three years in prison.
Husbands was being held Friday, May 13, in the Jefferson County Jail on no bond.
According to the probable-cause statement in the case, Festus Police got a call just after 5 p.m. May 9 about a disturbance outside the store involving a gun. When officers arrived, the two female victims told police the suspect allegedly pointed a handgun at them and took a purse from one of them. One of the victims said she displayed a handgun, and the suspect took it away from her. They also said the suspect struck them several times in the head with a gun during the incident.
The suspect fled the scene, Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said.
“The Festus Police Department immediately began an investigation, identified the suspect and sent out the information to all surrounding agencies,” Lewis said. “On May 11 the suspect was arrested in St. Charles.”
Festus Police went to the St. Charles Police Department and took Husbands into custody, Lewis said.
“I would like to thank all of the officers involved in this case because all their hard work ultimately paid off with the arrest and charging of Mr. Husbands,” Lewis said.