DFW News App

Documents revealed that the man robbed out of $6,000 at an Edinburg movie theater last December was set up so suspects could “take his chain.”

The Edinburg Police Department previously said in January that Phillip Nicholas Couch and an unidentified 15-year-old juvenile were arrested after police, along with a SWAT team, executed a search warrant at the 2900 block of Del Rey W in connection to an aggravated robbery at AMC Edinburg 18.

Now, a probable cause affidavit revealed that a total of seven suspects were involved in the robbery that was purposely set up.

The incident in question occurred on Dec. 15 at about 8:42 p.m. after Edinburg police were dispatched to the theater located at 3003 S. Expressway 281.

Police made contact with the reporting party who informed them he had been on a date at AMC, and as he walked toward his truck at the south side parking lot after leaving the woman he was with, the individual was approached by “about seven males” wearing ski masks, the affidavit said.

The man told police he saw two of the suspects carrying black Glock handguns with lights attached to them, while another suspect was carrying a black AR pistol type of firearm.

According to the document, the individual said the suspect with the rifle pointed it at his stomach and demanded his 24-inch gold chain worth $5,000, his brown Gucci shoes worth $820 and his hoodie worth $120.

After giving them his belongings, the affidavit said the suspect also asked the man for his truck’s keys, to which the individual pleaded with him to not take it. Then, the suspect ran toward a black SUV that the others also got inside of, and fled the parking lot.

A week after the robbery, a juvenile the affidavit designated as “Co-Defendant 1” was called in to the Edinburg Police Department along with her mother, and while there, the juvenile confessed she was asked to set up the individual by another juvenile designated as “Co-Defendant 2.”

She further advised police that four juvenile males were involved as well as another male by the name “Nic” — later identified as Couch — who had all the guns, according to the document.

The affidavit also noted that detective Artemio Cantu said he had worked several cases involving Couch, adding that he goes by the nickname “Nic” and is related to one of the other juvenile co-defendants.

The detective also said that Couch and his cousin live at the same location, and that Cantu had confiscated firearms and gun switches from their residence.

Nevertheless, Co-Defendant 1’s cellphone was confiscated to preserve evidence, and after securing a search warrant, police were able to corroborate her story from the data extraction that the individual had been set up for the robbery.

On Jan. 19, the affidavit stated that Co-Defendant 2 was detained for aggravated robbery and engaging in organized criminal activity. During his first appearance at the municipal court, the juvenile wanted to speak with detectives.

“Juvenile Co-Defendant 2 stated he was approached by his friend and advised that he wanted to set up a guy so he can take his chain,” the affidavit read.

He continued to say himself along with three other juveniles, Couch, and another male known only as “Izzy” were involved in the robbery. He also corroborated that Couch is the cousin to one of the other juveniles involved and that they live at the same residence.

The affidavit continued to say that Co-Defendant 2 told police he paid Couch $100 for his part in the robbery and provided the money at Couch’s residence — where police executed a search warrant last month.

Couch was charged with aggravated robbery and engaging in organized criminal activity, with his bonds totalling to $150,000.

He remains held in the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center.

The post Man robbed at Edinburg AMC Theatre was targeted for $5K gold chain appeared first on MyRGV.com.