Published: August 17, 2007 09:12 am      

Attempted robbery at mall thwarted; two arrested

The combined efforts of three local law enforcement agencies led to the capture of two individuals who allegedly attempted to rob a woman in the parking lot of Somerset Mall yesterday.

Somerset Police Detective Shannon Smith says the subjects — Darrell Daulton II, 31, of Burnside, and Tara Haynes Davis, 36, of Ferguson — approached a woman, believed to be in her 50’s, as she got into her vehicle at the mall around 6 p.m.

The perpetrators attempted to steal the woman’s purse and threatened to use force, Smith said.

When the victim — who was not injured during the ordeal — began blowing her car’s horn in an attempt to get help, the couple fled in a van and headed north on U.S. 27.

Authorities were alerted, and, within 10 minutes, Burnside Assistant Police Chief Bruce Blevins stopped a vehicle on U.S. 27 matching the description given by witnesses to the crime.

Smith, along with Pulaski County Sheriff’s Lt. Detective Brett Whitaker, responded to the location, and began an investigation.

The victim identified the pair in the van as the man and woman who had attempted to rob her in the parking lot.

Smith says Daulton and Davis are both facing charges of criminal attempt to commit robbery, 2nd degree.

“Thanks to Assistant Chief Blevins for being on his toes. He was in the right place at the right time,” Smith said yesterday evening.

“That type of help is invaluable when it comes to getting violent crimes solved.”