Two men were arrested over the weekend for separate, unrelated armed robberies of Warsaw Market, formerly Freedom Express, at 801 E. Center St., Warsaw, earlier this month.

James Ray Loftis, 36, of 512 W. Center St., Warsaw, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 10:57 p.m. Friday on charges of robbery with a deadly weapon and theft of $750 to $50,000. His preliminary bond was set at $20,250. He allegedly robbed the gas station at gunpoint on Jan. 12.



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The other incident occurred on Jan. 2 and investigation into that case led officers to Christopher Roberts, 38, Warsaw.

Officers were informed that a man matching the description of Roberts in the store video was also responsible for a second robbery that occurred at a gas station at the corner Of Ind. 114 and Ind. 15 in Wabash County on Jan. 7.

Detectives with the Indiana State Police compared surveillance videos and identified a vehicle in both videos, according to a news release from WPD Public Information Officer Ryan Coble. That led investigators to Roberts, who was arrested and is being held at the Wabash County Jail.

The new release says Roberts will be charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon, a level 3 felony; battery with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; and theft with enhancement, a level 6 felony.

WNDU reported state police detectives obtained a warrant and searched Roberts’ home.  They found him a few hours later in Howard County, while using heroin, according to the South Bend station.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed Friday in Kosciusko County courts, Loftis faces a level 3 felony count of robbery with a deadly weapon and a level 6 felony count of theft.

On Jan. 12 at approximately 5:31 a.m., Warsaw Police Department responded to an armed robbery at Warsaw Market. WPD officer Ross Minear spoke with the clerk, who said a man with a firearm demanded money. The clerk said the man – later identified as Loftis – took $813.87 and made him lay down on the floor when he left.

WPD officer Paul Heaton spoke to the clerk who said the gun used in the robbery appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun.

On Jan. 21, Heaton received a call from the gas station owner who said he had information from a woman who had told him she was aware of a subject who had a stolen shotgun matching the description of the gun used in the robbery.

At 3:27 p.m., on Jan. 22, the woman – who wanted to remain anonymous – was contacted by Heaton. She said a friend of hers, James Blanton, had just moved and he had a sawed-off shotgun stolen that matched the description of the weapon used in the robbery. She said Loftis had been staying with Blanton before Blanton moved, and she said Loftis had stolen many items from Blanton, including a shotgun. The woman said Blanton did not report the shotgun stolen but she felt she needed to let law enforcement know about the incident.

Heaton was contacted by an informant who said they had information on the Warsaw Market robbery. The informant said Loftis contacted him/her via telephone and asked to meet with him/her. After meeting with Loftis, the informant said Loftis stated he had messed up and that he needed an alibi and wanted to know if the informant would provide that alibi, according to court documents. The informant said he/she could not because he/she was with a law enforcement officer during that time period.

If the informant could not be his alibi, Loftis said he was (expletive) and he knew he was being sought after for the robbery. Loftis told the informant he was “(expletive) up” and couldn’t believe he committed the robbery. The informant told Loftis he could be hanging out with James Hackworth for an alibi.

Court documents state Loftis told the informant he was “methed” and “Xanied” out and robbed the gas station because he needed more money.

Loftis told the informant he had his friend, Dexter (no last name listed), drive him and his girlfriend to the area of the gas station and then exited the vehicle, committed the robbery and then they drove him away.

The informant stated Loftis was driven to Main Street where he put a ski mask on and went into the gas station with a sawed-off .410 and demanded money. Loftis explained the robbery incident to the informant.

The informant asked Loftis what happened to the money, and Loftis said he kept half and gave the driver, Dexter, the other half. Loftis used his share to get high, but said he only got $500 from the robbery.

The informant then asked what happened to the gun, and Loftis said he had the girlfriend put it in three different rivers in three different states, according to court documents.

After the incident, Loftis got rid of his old cell phone. The informant told Heaton that Loftis may have a job in the North Manchester area and might be staying with his cousin, Chris (last name unknown).