The Charlestown Police Department received a complaint from two Charlestown Papa John’s Pizza employees that they had just been robbed while making the store night deposit at a local bank. Officers learned that shortly before 2:00 am, on December 31, 2000, a male suspect exited from behind shrubs near the bank night depository, grabbed a money deposit bag from the hands of the employee who was preparing to deposit it, and fled on foot with it. After a brief attempt by the employees to chase down the suspect, they immediately reported the incident to the Charlestown Police Department. Officer Don Wolfe, of the Charlestown Police Department, immediately began obtaining detailed information and compiling suspect composite drawings with the Papa John’s employees, while other officers responded to the scene of the crime. Upon crime scene arrival, Charlestown K9 Officer Keith McDonald, off duty officer Greg Phillips and Indiana State Trooper Michael Bennett, obtained witness information of a possible vehicle involved. The witness described the vehicle as a silver colored Dodge Neon or Geo Storm, with a partial license plate number; last seen southbound on State Road 403 from Charlestown. Officers then dispatched the vehicle description and incident information to local police agencies. A short time later, Lt. Marvin Hoskins, of the Clark County Police Department, stopped a vehicle in response to the vehicle dispatch, near the intersection of State Road 62 and Bethany Road. Officers of the Jeffersonville and Sellersburg Police Departments also assisted in vehicle stop investigation. Upon further investigation and questioning of the occupants of the vehicle, most of the stolen deposit of approximately $2,000.00 was recovered by officers. Arrested and charged with Class C Felony Robbery were: 18 year old John Duke Benningfield, of Clarksville; 22 year old, Elizabeth Minta Clifford, of Floyd Knobs; and 19 year old James Ray Karsner, of Charlestown. Karsner was also wanted in Floyd County, for Felony Theft Charges.

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