Robbery suspect in custody

Barrow County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Inv. Matt Guthas said Sheavonne Nytee Finch, 22, of 418 Harpy Eagle Drive in Winder, has been charged with armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, entering auto and violation of parole.

“We are currently pursuing other leads in reference to additional suspects and hopefully those will result in additional arrests,” Guthas said.

Finch’s arrest stems from an incident earlier this month on Tanners Bridge Road.

A deputy was dispatched to the area after a caller reported seeing a man running in the road without any clothes. As the deputy entered the neighborhood, a motorist flashed his high beams in an attempt to gain the deputy’s attention.

The driver of the vehicle was also not wearing any clothes and advised the deputy that he had been assaulted and robbed a short time prior. The driver said he was attempting to locate his friend who was with him at the time of the incident.

According to the driver, he and his friend drove to Barrow County from Statesboro to purchase electronic gaming systems from a man he had learned about from a mutual acquaintance.

The driver and his friend met with a young, black male at a Winder convenience store. After repeatedly asking if either man had any weapons, the black male instructed the two men to follow him to a Bethlehem residence in order to purchase the electronics.

The driver said he became suspicious of the male and made note of the man’s license plate, but still followed the man to a Tanners Bridge Road address.

Once at the residence, the driver and his friend were robbed by three men. One of the men was reportedly armed with a baseball bat, one with a shotgun and the third with a pistol.

The driver said his friend was pistol whipped before being ordered to remove his clothing and walk away from the house.

The driver was also stripped of his clothing, but was allowed to drive away a short time later.

Deputies located the driver’s friend at a nearby residence. The friend had visible injuries to his head as a result of being repeatedly struck with the pistol. The friend corroborated the driver’s story.

The two men advised they had been robbed of their cell phones, credit cards, debit cards, cash, clothing and other items.

On Oct. 12, authorities took Finch into custody. The other suspects remain at large. Inv. Guthas said he could not divulge what evidence led to Finch’s apprehension citing the ongoing investigation.