By Shavonne Potts
shavonne.potts@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — An East Spencer teen was charged this week with the September robbery of a Safety Taxi cab driver at gunpoint. An arrest warrant was issued for the 16-year-old on Thursday.

Roeman Dupri Collins, of East Torbush Street, was charged by the Salisbury Police Department with felony robbery with a dangerous weapon. Because the incident occurred and warrants were issued before a new juvenile law, the teen has been charged as an adult, said detective Russ DeSantis.

On Sept. 22 at 5:34 a.m, the cab driver arrived at the 900 block of East Lafayette Street to pick up a young woman and young man. The pair asked to be taken to Walmart, DeSantis said.

The driver left to pick up another rider and told the dispatcher to call the first two riders to see how long they expected to be at Walmart. The driver returned to Walmart and told the two the fare would be $12.

The male, later identified as Collins, appeared to be reaching for money while the female, later identified as Bricara Wilson, 18, seemed to be holding something in her hand. The driver realized Wilson was holding a gun, DeSantis said. Collins allegedly took the gun from Wilson, pushed it into the back of the driver and told the driver, “Fam, give me the money.”

The driver gave the teen the money, the teens got out of the cab and the driver returned to the cab company where he informed his boss and then called 911, DeSantis said.

DeSantis said detectives were able to obtain security footage from Walmart that they used to identify the teens. The teens also had used their number when they called for the cab.

Wilson was charged on Jan. 14 with robbery with a firearm. Both teens have since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center.