COMMERCE — Social media and citizens step up to take a bite out of crime and put a robbery suspect back behind bars. 

On Saturday, July 23, 2016 just before 11:00 a.m., a robbery took place at Cheney's Check Cashing in Commerce. Shortly after posting the suspect's picture on the Commerce Web Page and Facebook, a citizen contacted a Commerce detective with photos and information on the suspect's identity. Other members of the police department were getting the same information till Sunday.

On Monday, the suspect was located during a routine check in at a Federal Halfway house in Hutchins, Texas. A Commerce Detective, along with a Greenville Detective, traveled to Hutchins to speak with the suspect about the Commerce robbery and three robberies in Greenville where the suspect matched the person detained. Three other agencies, along with the FBI, were in contact, indicating that the suspect in their cases was the same as the Commerce robbery.  These included two bank robberies in north central and northeast Texas.

After interviewing the suspect, he was detained at the facility as a result of the investigations.  At the time, he was on Federal Parole and will be transported by the US Marshall’s Service to a Seagoville prison where he will serve out the remainder of his Federal sentence. Warrants for the Commerce robbery and other robberies are expected to be issued soon. Once the suspect completes his Federal sentence, he will be transported back to Hunt County to face the robbery charges.

We commend our Facebook followers for their crime prevention efforts that have help put this man back behind bars.  This is the second time that our Facebook followers have been instrumental in solving open cases.  Because of the tips received, the Commerce Police Department was able to assist in clearing several other robberies in the northeast and north central Texas area.