Two cases of armed robbery that began as an Internet listing selling a motorcycle have led to arrests by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department; one suspect has been charged for his involvement in both crimes.

Sheriff David Allison said one of the armed robberies was reported to the department on June 24 just before 5 p.m. Deputies responded and spoke to a man who reported he was meeting a man at a local convenience store in order to look at a motorcycle listed for sale on Craig’s List.

When the man and his wife arrived at the store they met a man, later identified as 21-year-old Latimore Pittman of 3 B. Robert James Rd., in Poplarville, who said they had to take a ride to his house to see the motorcycle, Allison said.

Pittman rode with the couple to a house in the Whitesand area, where he led the male victim towards a shed in the rear of the home, leaving his wife in the truck. As Pittman opened the doors to the shed, the victim said he felt a gun pointed at the back of his head by a second suspect, Allison said.

Pittman then demanded the money from the victim, who refused and instead reached behind him to grab the gun from the second suspect, prompting an altercation with the second suspect, Allison said.

At that time Pittman fled towards the victim’s vehicle and attempted to enter it, but the victim’s wife had locked the doors, Allison said.

The second suspect, later identified as a 16-year-old male who is currently being held at another facility, fled the scene on foot, Allison said.

Investigators worked the case and were able to determine the identity of Pittman, later arresting him on Monday for the charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime, Allison said.

A hold has been placed on the juvenile, and once he appears before the court the department will request he be charged as an adult. If the court agrees, Allison said the department will release his identity and the charges he faces.

Pittman has also been tied to another armed robbery associated with a Craig’s List post selling a motorcycle, which was reported on July 3, and was very similar to the June 23, incident, Allison said.

According to a previous story in the Item, the victim was informed to meet the seller at a home in the Whitesand community.

When the victim arrived he was informed the motorcycle was in the rear of the home but when they got to the rear of the house the victim was robbed at gun point by two men wearing ski masks before all three fled the scene.

Three other suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement that crime, Allison said.

They are 19-year-old Anfrenee N. Bonner of 27 Bonner Rd., Poplarville, who was arrested on July 11, for the charges of armed robbery and two contempt of court warrants; 19-year-old Brenton C. Gray of 139 Village Circle, Poplarville was arrested on July 10 for armed robbery; and 20-year-old Lonnie J. Harry of 4058 Citizen St., Bay St. Louis was arrested on July 10, for the charge of armed robbery.

Allison said he would like to commend his investigators for the hard work they put into solving these cases.

“I’m proud of their hard work,” Allison said. “That’s a serious crime we don’t take lightly.”