Cell Call and Photo Leads to Robbery Arrest

A Cleveland Heights man who prosecutors say robbed two people in a car at gunpoint appeared in court Wednesday. 

Carl Sanders, 21, took money, a purse and other items from two people sitting in a car parked on the side of a Marathon Gas Station on Woodland Avenue in Cleveland Feb. 26, said  Ryan Miday, spokesperson for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason's Office. 

But he left something behind. 

Sanders opened the door and pointed a gun at a 31-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man. Prosecutors said he told them not to move, reached into the man's pocket and stole money, then reached toward the back and attempted to grab the woman's purse while continuing to point the gun at them.

When he couldn't reach, he told the woman, "Shut up and give me the purse." He ran with the purse, which had about $400 in it, and her driver's license, pea coat, credit card, Social Security card and identification card. 

The man and woman went to the gas station attendant to report what just happened outside and Cleveland Police arrived. One of the victims noticed a cell phone outside of the car. The phone rang, and someone on the other line asked, "What did you get?" The phone had Sander's photo on it, prosecutors said. 

Sanders was arrested April 4. The arraignment has not been set, and he's being held on a $50,000 bond. He was indicted on robbery, theft and weapons charges.