Submitted: Anonymously
A 19-year-old Bristol Township woman is accused of being involved in a robbery that injured the owner of a business in Bristol Township in September.
Bristol Township police filed charges on Dec.19 against Roniqua Kiara Rankins and three others who stole from Gold Star Hair & shop then struck the owner with their vehicle when they tried to flee the scene of the incident.
Originally reported as an “exclusive” for another publication, by this reporter, the robbery took place on September 20 at the wig salon on the 2600 block of Durham Road.
Rankins, is charged with multiple robbery counts, as well as conspiracy to commit robbery,and aggravated assault by vehicle with misdemeanor counts for retail theft and receiving stolen property.
Rankins and three unidentified juvenile girls stole about $185 worth of merchandise from the cosmetics store police allege in court records.
As they attempted to flee, they struck store co-owner with their vehicle causing serious injury, authorities alleged.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage of the parking lot and saw the suspect, with three juvenile girls exit a Hyundai Sonata, while another girl stayed behind, court documents show.
Rankins left the store, got into the car, and then the other three came out and got in as well, police wrote in court documents.
The victims followed the suspects out of the beauty related shop according to the probable cause affidavit after they stole items from the store.
The co-owner followed them to the suspect vehicle grabbing onto the driver door mirror as the Sonata backed out, court documents show.
Witnesses on scene, and police say the victim was holding on, while the vehicle was reversing to pass her, and she was spun around, falling at the front of the vehicle subsequently being struck by the front corner of the vehicle causing her to fall to the ground and suffer multiple fractures to her spine, according to court documents.
Witnesses reported hearing a “snap” at the time of the incident and thought it was a “gunshot” at first.
According to court documents one of the girls threw stolen merchandise out of the car after striking the victim/
one of the alleged suspects, a juvenile, left the scene when police arrived, officials said.
Police said as of late November one of the two victims was still required to wear a back brace, has not been able to work, and her freedom of movement is severely restricted.
Police did not say in public court documents if the juveniles
with Rankins are charged also
Rankins is free on $50,000 unsecured bail.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb.18 at Bristol Township District Court on Bath Rd.
Police did not say in court documents if the juveniles with Rankins are charged too. A source with knowledge of the investigation said witnesses were asked to report to Doylestown for a hearing related to the case for a late December court date.
Since the arrest of Rankins, the court date has been cancelled, sources said Friday.
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