July 26th, 2019 mjgard@lafayette.in.gov
Reported Robbery Leads to Theft Arrest
On July 26th, 2019 at 4:09 am, the Lafayette Police Department received a report of an armed robbery that had taken place at McDonalds, 2333 Sagamore Pkwy S in Lafayette. Police were informed that a suspect had pulled up to the drive thru window and demanded the money from the register while displaying a hand gun. The suspect then reached through the window and took money from the register.
Security footage from the business allowed police and employees to identify the suspect as former employee Nicholas Bates. Bates had quit shortly before 2:50 am today. Police were called at that time to speak to Bates after he caused a disturbance in the business.
After the reported robbery occurred, officers went to 3008 Phipps Ct to attempt to locate Bates. The vehicle used at the time of the theft was located nearby. Officers spoke with a resident in the apartment who was identified as Regina Lewis and asked to speak with Bates. This attempt was not successful so officers obtained a search warrant for the apartment.
Due to the severity of the reported incident the Lafayette SWAT team was called to serve the warrant. The occupants of the Apartment, Regina Lewis, her two young children, and her 15 year old sibling came out of the apartment at the request of the police. Bates refused to exit resulting in the SWAT team using a chemical agent to prompt him to exit. Bates came out of the residence at 9:06 am and was taken into custody without incident.
Detectives with the Lafayette Police Department interviewed all of the people involved in the reported robbery. The employee that initially reported the robbery, Jamarkis Hackett (20) was arrested for false informing after it was determined that no weapon was used, and the incident was not a robbery. Hackett and Bates were co-workers at the business.
Nicholas Bates (22) was arrested for Theft, Trespassing, and Resisting Law Enforcement. The trespassing arrest resulted from a previous trespass warning issued against him for the apartment complex where he was located this morning.
Regina Lewis (19) was arrested for assisting a criminal. The children in the apartment were all turned over to a relative.
The fact a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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