A Peoria man was charged with armed robbery Monday, nearly 18 months after he allegedly used a machete to rob a Dollar General store in South Peoria, according to the Peoria County State’s Attorney.
Rufus Sanders, 60, was arrested over the weekend after officers used DNA to identify him as the suspect in the case, according to a release from the state’s attorney’s office.
On July 18, 2023, Peoria police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the store at 4003 SW Adams Street. An employee told officers a man wearing a white mask and armed with a machete entered the store, demanding the cashier give him money from the register. According to the state’s attorney, the suspect walked behind the counter, took all the money from the register — approximately $344 — and fled.
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The incident was caught on surveillance video, and detectives recovered the suspect’s mask which had been discarded nearby. DNA testing led them to identify Sanders, according to the state’s attorney’s office.
A detention hearing was held Jan. 6. A petition to detain was granted, meaning Sanders will remain in custody until trial. This investigation is ongoing. If you have information, contact the Peoria Police Department at (309) 673-4521.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria man charged with using machete to rob Dollar General