RAPID CITY, S.D. – Two men are in custody following an armed robbery at a local business on Mount Rushmore Road Sunday morning.
Rapid City police responded to Common Cents, located at 2640 Mount Rushmore Road, at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Jan. 4 after receiving reports of a robbery. Witnesses told responding officers that an unknown male entered the store, brandished a handgun and demanded money. The employee complied with the demands, and the suspect fled the scene.
Officers obtained a description of the suspect and detained a male in the vicinity shortly after the incident. Surveillance video recovered from the area showed the suspect meet with another male after the robbery. The two individuals were seen entering an apartment building at 636 Cathedral Drive before leaving the building just prior to being contacted by police.
Investigators identified the robbery suspect as 22-year-old Matthew Arapahoe. Police determined that the second male, 39-year-old Ronald Redtomahawk, assisted Arapahoe in his attempts to evade law enforcement and discard the weapon. Authorities also found that Redtomahawk received a portion of the money stolen during the crime.
Both men were arrested on charges of first degree robbery and transported to the Pennington County Jail.
Police recovered the firearm used in the robbery and determined it was a BB gun brandished to appear as a real firearm.
“This is a brazen armed robbery committed in our community during broad daylight,” said Rapid City Chief of Police Don Hedrick. “I’m thankful for the quick response from our patrol officers, and the diligent follow-up from our detectives which led to the apprehension of these two suspects. Acts of violence like this will not be normalized within our city, and we remain committed to utilizing all appropriate resources to ensure offenders are held accountable.”
