Tyler Police Department:
TYLER (KYTX) - On Wednesday, July 18, 2012 Investigators added an additional charge of Aggravated Robbery to the pending charges on Elliott Bernard West, Jr. The additional charge stems from the incident that occurred on Saturday, July 14, 2012 at 1025 Hospital Drive. Investigators obtained the warrant from Judge Jack Skeen on Wednesday. Bond has been set at $750,000.00. Elliott Bernard West Jr. remains detained in the Smith County Jail.
On Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. Elliott Bernard West Jr., B/M, age 21 of Tyler, was arrested and charged with the crime of Aggravated Robbery in connection with the robbery that occurred on Sunday, July 15th at the Tyler Public Library.
Around 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, West approached the victim, an 82 year old W/F, in the parking lot of the Tyler Public Library, produced a handgun and demanded to be taken to an unknown location. The victim refused, but was robbed of the cash in her purse. West fled the area on foot running to Marvin United Methodist Church where he was confronted by an off-duty Tyler Police Officer working in a security role for the church.
West told the officer he was interested in becoming a member of the church, but needed to go to the bathroom first. Investigators later learned that West hid the weapon used in the robbery in a church bathroom. The weapon used was determined to be a pellet gun that resembles a real handgun.
On Saturday, July 14th, around 6:30 p.m. an Aggravated Assault occurred in the parking lot of a medical office on Hospital Drive. A B/M suspect approached a Hispanic male sitting in a vehicle, produced a handgun and demanded the vehicle. The victim walked away leaving the keys in the car. The suspect did not take the car, but fled the area on foot toward Tyler Junior College. Officers from Tyler Junior College located and stopped a B/M matching the suspect's description and identified that person as Elliott Bernard West.
Further investigation later revealed West to be the suspect in both incidents described. An arrest warrant is pending for the Aggravated Assault charge. West is currently in the Smith County Jail with a $750,000 bond issued by Judge Jack Skeen.
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