LITTLE ROCK — Police have made arrests in one robbery reported after Riverfest Saturday night and are investigating a second incident that occurred nearby.
Little Rock Police Department spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings said in a statement that authorities arrested Darrius Mix, 18, and Bryan Falls, 18, in the armed robbery of three men who were walking back to their vehicle after attending Riverfest. The victims' car, which was taken in the incident along with wallets and cell phones, was recovered.
The other robbery was said to have occurred late Saturday night in front of the Capital Hotel, although it wasn't reported until Sunday morning when the victim's mother contacted police.
The victim, identified as 20-year-old Taylor Stone, later told investigators he lagged behind his friends to send a text message when a man came up, grabbed his phone and said "whatcha goin to do white boy," according to a police report.
Stone said he was then attacked by at least 10 other young black men and that, despite crowds in the area, no one offered help.
"(Stone) said he saw a LRPD officer, and asked for help, but was told by the officer he was 'off-duty,'" police wrote in the report.
It wasn't immediately clear how authorities identified Mix and Falls as suspects in the first robbery, which occurred near 6th and Broadway Streets.
The victims told police a group of four men followed them and asked for a ride. According to the report, the victims got into their pickup with the men, at which point one of the men brandished a pistol and ordered the victims to the ground.