Arrest made in Homefries heist

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A suspect in the July 20 gunpoint robbery of Homefries Restaurant is in custody.

Johnston Police Maj. Frank Levesque said Papa D. Ba, 21, with a last known address of 48 Glenham St. in Providence, is charged with armed robbery and using a firearm while committing a crime of violence. He is being held at the ACI, with his arraignment scheduled for Aug. 4 in Third District Court.

Levesque said Providence police arrested Ba on July 30 on a charge of possessing a stolen firearm. At that point, he said, Providence detectives identified Ba as the Johnston robbery suspect through an image posted on the Rhode Island Most Wanted website.

Johnston was subsequently contacted, and Levesque said Ba was “positively identified by our witness” as the Homefries robbery suspect.

Levesque praised Johnston Detectives Thomas Dwyer and Anthony Sasso for their handling of the investigation, and said police wanted to get word of the arrest out to the community.

“We don’t want people to be nervous and think they could be the next victim,” he said.

The Homefries robbery occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. on the morning in question, when police say a black male went through the rear entrance of the 1417 Atwood Ave. restaurant with a handgun, held the weapon to a female employee’s head and demanded money.

Levesque said approximately $3,000 was stolen during the incident. Police continue to investigate whether a vehicle or accomplice was involved, as well as the reason Homefries was targeted.

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  • JohnStark

    Just a hunch, but I'm sure Mr. Ba is simply accustomed to robbing restaurants Americans just don't want to rob.

    Saturday, August 2, 2014 Report this

  • allent

    Homeboy who robbed a Homefries now has a new home.

    Saturday, August 2, 2014 Report this