KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A suspect in an August party store robbery has been arrested and charged, according to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.
Kevin DeAndre Ware was arrested by Michigan State Police after officials received a tip that he was in the Hartford area, according to a release. He was wanted in connection with the Aug. 26 robbery at TJ’s Party Store in the 4500 block of West KL Ave.
Ware was airlifted to Bronson Hospital the same day as the robbery after crashing his vehicle after a chase in Van Buren County, officials said. He later left the hospital.
Investigators say he led Van Buren County deputies on the chase after he and another man, Kristopher Lee Jackson, were stopped along Red Arrow Highway near 70th Street around 1:30 a.m. Aug. 26.
Deputies detained Jackson, who was in the passenger seat, during the traffic stop. But Ware drove off in the vehicle and crashed a short time later.
Investigators have tied both Jackson and Ware to the armed robbery. A stolen handgun and other evidence of a robbery were found in the vehicle.
Ware was arraigned in 8th District Court Thursday on charges of armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felony firearms, according to a release.
The pair are accused of entering the store armed with a handgun, stealing cash and merchandise from the store.
Investigators say Ware and Jackson also took the liquor store employees’ phones to keep them from immediately calling police.
