Photo Gallery | Infant in vehicle during drug deal turned armed robbery

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – An eight-month old child was turned over to authorities after a man called police following his attempted drug deal that turned into an armed robbery.

Joshua Alan Connett, 24, called 911 and said he was robbed at gunpoint around 6:45 p.m. on Saturday while he attempted to buy drugs, according to Wilmington Police Department spokesperson Kevin A. Smith. Connett said he had purchased drugs from the three individuals in the past and felt it was “safe to deal with them,” Smith said.

When Connett approached the vehicle to make the drug deal in the parking lot of the Ramada Inn on Market Street in Wilmington, one of the individuals pulled out a small hand gun and demanded his money. Connett then handed over the money and the vehicle fled off.

A WPD officer happened to witness the vehicle leave the parking lot, according to Smith, and provided a detailed description of the vehicle and driver when dispatch reported the robbery.

The vehicle was located near the intersection of 16th and Market streets and the following arrests were made:

• Jamie Ted Pressley, 26, was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and given a $50,000 bond.
• John Ray Tobin Jr., 21, was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and given a $50,000 bond.
• Leona Lavonya Tobin, 24, was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, misdemeanor child abuse and reckless driving. She was booked at the New Hanover County Jail and given a $50,000 bond. The child who was found inside the vehicle was turned over to the New Hanover County Department of Social Services.
• Connett was charged with one count of attempting to violate the Controlled Substance Act and was booked with a $1,000 unsecured bond.

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