A Montgomery man has been arrested and federally charged in connection with a brutal robbery and assault of a very familiar Montgomery business owner earlier this month.
Zedekiah Sykes, 58, was arrested by U.S. Marshals on Wednesday. He is charged with armed robbery, brandishing a firearm during a violent crime and carjacking.
The Montgomery Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit reportedly assisted in the arrest.
Sykes is the sole arrest in the crime that involved four masked men. Sykes' mugshot was not immediately available.
The Montgomery Police Department (MPD) said the robbery occurred on March 10 at Jim Massey's Cleaners in the 500 block of South Street.
Central Alabama Crimestoppers offered an initial $5,000 reward for information. That has now been doubled to $10,000.
Jim Massey, the owner of the dry-cleaning chain, was present in the store when four masked men entered around 6 p.m.
Massey told WAKA that he was alone in his office when he heard a loud crash. As he stepped out to investigate, he was confronted by a man rushing down the hallway.
MPD and Central Alabama Crimestoppers shared photos showing the men breaking the glass on the front door to gain entry. All four men were masked and wearing hard hats and reflective vests. At least one perpetrator was armed.
"This guy comes walking fast, jogging down the hallway, and said, 'We've accidentally run a car into your front door,'" Massey told WAKA. "But then he got closer. I realized he had on a mask, goggles, and a hat. And about that time, there was a second one behind him. They both grabbed me, and behind them were two more guys. They said, 'Let's go to the safe. Take us to the safe.' And I said, 'OK.' They had a gun. There were four of them. I did not have a gun—probably, thank goodness."
"He just reared back, and that's where this came from," Massey continued, pointing to a swollen, black-and-blue eye. "He chipped my tooth and cut my chin. I was standing upright, and the guy was holding my arms up. When he hit me, I fell down, but the guy holding my arms kind of kept me up. So then I'm in a squatted position trying to figure out what the heck just happened. And as I'm kind of half kneeling, he puts the gun on top of my head and said, 'If you don't tell us the combination, I'm going to blow your blankety-blank head off, and I'll do it.' My life didn't flash before my eyes, but my wife and two kids—they were the three people that came to mind."
After forcing him to open the safe, the robbers then zip-tied Massey's feet, stole his keys and left in his vehicle. After the suspects left, Massey was able to cut the ties and call the police.
Sykes faces up to a life sentence if convicted on all counts.
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