East Alton man charged with robbery after attempting to report one

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WOOD RIVER — An East Alton man was arrested Friday after attempting to report a robbery — while also being the suspect of an armed robbery earlier that evening.

Joshua L.T. Franklin, 19, of the 100 block of South Pence, East Alton, was charged Monday with armed robbery, a Class X felony. He was arrested by Wood River police and is currently being held in Madison County Jail on $125,000 bond. Franklin was transported to the jail Monday.

On Friday, Aug. 4 at approximately 7:45 p.m., the Wood River Police Department received a 911 call from Wood River Market, 222 East Edwardsville Road, reporting an armed robbery.

A suspect description was obtained and a perimeter was established, with the assistance of Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford and East Alton police. The suspect was seen near the East Alton Wood River High School shortly after the robbery, according to a release from Wood River Deputy Chief Dan Bunt.

Within an hour of the reported armed robbery, East Alton police reported a subject that matched the suspect’s description was inside the lobby of their police department wanting to report a robbery in Wood River.

Officers arrived and quickly determined the person wanting to report a robbery was the suspect in the Wood River Market armed robbery. Franklin was taken into custody without incident.

A search warrant was obtained for a residence in the 100 block of South Pence in East Alton. Clothing, currency and a weapon were recovered from the residence.