Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Man Charged In Great Wall Theft Used Money to Buy Drugs

Bond set at 50k for the Lion's Gate apartment resident

***CORRECTION BELOW***

Eric Anthony Rome, who was charged with armed robbery, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and petit larceny in connection with an incident at the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant on Friday evening had his bond set today at $50,000 by Judge Angela Martin of the Mauldin Municipal Court.***

Rome took the approximately $300 he stole and bought cocaine, crack and marijuana before turning himself in Sunday. Rome confessed to the crime in which he used a pocket knife as a weapon, while adding that he volnutarly led Mauldin Police to where he hid the cash register and to the clothes he wore during commission of the crime.

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According to testimony, Rome ate at the Great Wall on Wednesday and left without paying. When he made off with the cash register on Friday he was chased by the 66 year-old owner of the restaurant who was injured during pursuit.

Rome admitted to being having a drug problem and expressed the hope that he might receive treatment while incarcerated.

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Martin ordered Rome to abstain from all contact with the victims and banned him from Great Wall property.

*** - Judge Martin was originally identified as Judge Jessica Salvini.

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Mauldin Police have arrested Eric Anthony Rome, Jr., 22, and charged him with armed robbery, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and petit larceny in connection with an incident at the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant on Friday evening. 

Rome turned himself in on Sunday and confessed to robbing the restaurant--located at the corner of Miller Road and Old Mill Road--according to . Police said Rome stole the cash register and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Rome was taken into custody and placed into the Greenville County Detention Center. His bond hearing will be held November 7, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at the Mauldin Police Department.

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