A Woodbridge woman has been charged as an accomplice in two robberies last month in the Fredericksburg area.
Police said 19-year-old Shanelle Carissa Monique Lewis drove the getaway car during a robbery at a Virginia Credit Union bank in Fredericksburg on Aug. 20, and again at a robbery at a PNC Bank in Spotsylvania County on Mon-day.
In both robberies, police said Mellville Jovan Buckner, 26, of Fredericksburg walked into the banks, handed the teller a note demanding money and implied that he had a gun, though one was never displayed, said Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe.
During the robbery in Spotsylvania County, Buckner fled in a gold Mercedes with temporary tags. During the Fred-ericksburg robbery, Buckner fled in a white Lexus.
Lewis is suspected of driving both cars.
A Fredericksburg police detective was having dinner with his family at a fast food restaurant in the city, about 8 p.m. on Tuesday, when he spotted a white Lexus that fit the description of the one used in the robbery.
The detective went to the parking lot to get the vehicle's license plate information and saw a gold Mercedes pull up to the Lexus, said Bledsoe.
The detective followed the Lexus to a nearby apartment complex where the driver was identified as Buckner, and was arrested.
Police then identified Lewis and arrested her at a Spotsylvania County hotel, said Bledsoe.
Police seized three cars, including the ones used in the robberies.
Lewis has been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, accessory to robbery, issuing a written threat to commit bodily harm to commit a larceny, and entering a bank while armed to commit a larceny.
Buckner also faces charges in both Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County stemming from the robberies.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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