Staff Report
KANNAPOLIS ó Police investigators say a man targeted two drivers for TJ’s Taxi for robbery last month.
The first incident occurred Oct. 13, when TJ’s driver Derrick Upright picked up a fare in the area of Little Texas Road around 11:20 p.m. As they reached the fare’s destination, the suspect placed a weapon to Upright’s head and demanded money.
The driver handed over an unspecified amount of money, and the suspect ran from the taxi.
Three days later, TJ’s driver Roger Knotts, 51, responded to a customer’s request to be picked up in the area of Pine Street. The fare sat in the back seat behind the driver. Again, he placed a weapon to the driver’s head and demanded money. The driver complied, and the suspect ran from the taxi.
Kannapolis police detectives developed Terrance Lamar Rucker, 22, of 109 Triece St., as a suspect and obtained warrants against him, Police Capt. Clyde Adams said in a press release.
On Oct. 21, detectives arrested Rucker on two counts of armed robbery. He remained in the Cabarrus County Jail Monday under a $10,000 secured bond.
According to the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office Web site, Rucker is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 12.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, he’s been arrested three times previously in Cabarrus County. He was charged with:
– Driving after consuming alcohol while younger than 21 on Aug. 15, 1996. He was sentenced to the time he spent in jail and released Sept. 9, 1996.
– Misdemeanor larceny on Nov. 18, 2003. Again, he was sentenced to the time he had served in jail and released Dec. 10, 2003.
– Misdemeanor larceny on July 6, 2003. The outcome of that case was not available.