Benjamin Lester

Name:
Lester, Benjamin Keith

Date of Booking:
04/14/2023

Reason(s) For Booking:
Armed Robbery

Armed Robbery

Armed Robbery

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On April 13, 2023 at approximately 2157 hours I, Deputy L. Smith was patrolling the area of North Expressway and Birdie Rd.

While traveling southbound on North Expressway in the area of Birdie Rd, I looked at the Valero gas station located at the intersection (2995 North Expressway) and observed two males walk from the shadows and the woodline behind the west side of the building. Upon observing the subjects I also noticed that both subjects were wearing masks.

At that time I decided to turn around and check the status of the convience store do the the events previously observed being out of the norm.

Upon pulling into the gas station I observed a white male wearing a red shirt on his knees with his hands being his head in the door way, later identified as [WITNESS #1] (W/M dob /1998).

At that time a male wearing a camoflauge jacket and jeans ran out of the store holding a black in color hand gun in his right hand followed by a male wearing a red and white shirt come out of the store. Both subjects were wearing face coverings.

I instructed both subjects to stop at that time both subjects began to run towards the west side of the convience store back towards where they previously walked from.

Due to the suspicion that an armed robbery just occured, I opened by rear door and gave K9 Rambo his apprehension command and directed him towards where the two subjects ran and I followed.

The males ran around the front west corner of the store and the male in the red and white shirt began to surrended. K9 Rambo apprehended the subject wearing the camoflauge jacket in the field behind the store.

I was able to place the male wearing the red and white shirt in handcuffs without further incident.

At that time a juvenile came out of the woodline to my right. I instructed him to get on the ground at which time he complied.

A short time later Deputies and Officers from Griffin Pd arrived on scene and I removed K9 Rambo from the apprehension and both males were taken into custody by Officers from Griffin PD and Spalding County Sheriff’s Office.

The male wearing the camoflauge jacket was later identified as Andy Flournoy (W/M dob /1993).

The male wearing a white and red stripped shirt was later identified as Benjamin Lester (W/M dob /2003).

The juvenile that crawled out of the woodline was later identified as (juv).

Upon checking the area for the firearm that Flournoy ran out of the store with. Lt. Chip Johns with the Griffin Police Department located a black in color Glock 43 9mm serial #(BCFX616) was located in the corner of the parking lot by where the subjects ran. I removed the firearm from the ground and placed it in the rear of my patrol car.

Sgt. Mcintyre searched Flournoy incident to arrest. and located an undetrmined amount of US currency suspected to have came from the Armed Robbery. Sgt. McIntyre and Deputy Holloman also located ID cards, a cell phone and other miscellanous cards belonging to the convience store clerk later identified as [VICTIM #1] (W/F dob /1982).

While checking on Flournoy and taking photographs of his injuries he made the spontenous utterance that he was gangbanging and later self admitted to Investigator Stout that he was affiliated with Ghostface Gangsters.

Flournoy was checked by EMS and transported to the Spalding Regional where he was treated for his injuries.

Griffin Police Department Officer Shirley and Officer Zubia searched Lester incident to arrest and located personal items and a red in color cell phone belonging to an employee of the gas station identified as [VICTIM #2] (B/M dob /1959).

Spalding County CID and crime scene arrived on scene and assisted with the investigation.

Myself Investigatior Smith and Investigator Hammond read Lester his Miranda warning at which time Lester agreed to speak with me. Lester advised that he has recently lost his job and he got drunk and decided to rob the store. Lester further stated that he randomly met Flournoy along the way and they walked to the store. Lester stated that he does not know Flournoy and they did not come up with a plan together. I asked Lester if he was affialated with any street gang. Lester stated that he was blessed in by his father to the Gangster Deciples.

The money found on Flournoy’s person and the firearm was turned over to Crime Scene investigatior Waddell.

Investigator Waddell also collected video footage from the store.

[WITNESS #1] and [VICTIM #1] filled out a statement form that was given to myself and Deputy Bauman.

The property of [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] that were found on the suspects were photographed and returned to them.

Deputy Ribiero collected a face mask that Lester was wearing that will be processed in evidence.

Upon running Flournoy’s criminal history it was found that Flournoy is a convicted felon as of 6/26/2015 out of Lamar County Supiour Court.

Investigator Waddell advised that the currency collented came to the amount of $1273.00

Investigator Smith and Investigator Hammond interviewed with his mother present at the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office CID interview room that was recorded.

During the interview advised that he did walk with Flournoy and Lester from the trailer park located at [1500 BLOCK] Patterson Rd but when they got to the store he hid in the woods and did not participate in the armed robbery.

During the interview also stated that there was a second gun in the woodline.

Myself, Investigar Hammond, Investigatior, Investigator Waddell and occumpanied by his mother went back to the location but was unable to locate the second gun.

Investigator’s with CID checked the location on April 13, 2023 and located a fake gun wrapped in a ski mask in the woodline

At that time it was determined that no charges will be pressed against

Lt. Chadwick was notified of the possible gang affiliation.

Warrants will be obtained for Lester for three counts of Armed Robbery.

Warrants will be obtained for Flournoy for possession of a firearm by convicted felon, three counts of Armed Robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and three counts of aggravated assault.

Warrants were signed by magistrate court judge Macdowell.

Warrant numbers 23-EW-002225, 23- EW- 002226, 23-EW-02227, 23-EW-02228, 23-EW-02229, 23-EW-02230, 23-EW-02231, 23-EW-02232, 23-EW-02233.

[End of Narrative]