Police Drop Charges Against Robbery Suspect

Charleston Police released Valentino Hayward, 22, of 1514 Evergreen Street, Sunday after determining the man who accused him of taking part in a Sept. 12 armed robbery was lying, according to a statement.

Hayward was rounded up last week after police busted an alleged plot to rob a China Fun delivery driver on Sept. 19. An employee at China Fun received a phone call for an order similar to one placed on Sept. 12, that resulted in one of the restaurant's delivery drivers being robbed at gunpoint.

That employee reported the suspicious order to police and officers caught a group of three men (Jonathan Hymes, 21, of Evergreen Street, Benjamin Singleton, 21, of Corral Drive and Jo’var Heyward, 17, of Sequoia Street) after a short chase on the West Ashley Bike Path. Following the arrests Heyward told officers he saw Valentino Hayward take part in the Sept. 12 armed robbery.

Hayward was subsequently arrested and charged with armed robbery, according to a statement issued on Sept. 21.

Police have since determined that Jo'Var Heyward was lying about Valentino Hayward's involvement in the Sept. 12 armed robbery. According to the new statement (issued Sept. 24), Jo'Var Heyward confessed to his own involvement in the Sept. 12 armed robbery.

Jo'Var Heyward, who was charged with conspiracy to commit strong armed robbery, attempted strong armed robbery and trespassing in the Sept. 19 attempted robbery, is now also charged with armed robbery in the Sept. 12 incident and filing a false police report, according to the Sept. 24 statement.

Jerron Smith, 18, of Sequoia Street, was also charged with armed robbery in the Sept. 12 incident.

Hymes and Singleton are also facing charges of conspiracy to commit strong armed robbery, attempted strong armed robbery and trespassing stemming from the Sept. 19 incident.