Serial Armed Robbery Suspects Arrested, Accused Of 6-Month Spree

GIG HARBOR, WA — The Pierce County Sheriff's Department says its deputies have arrested a pair of serial armed robbery suspects who, investigators believe, are hot off a six-month spree of robberies across the county.

The two men, 30-year-old Arthur Dukes and 28-year-old Tyrone Prophet Jr., are accused of at least 24 armed robberies in Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Spanaway and Graham. Deputies say it is possible the duo were behind even more, and that they are continuing to investigate the possibility.

According to court documents filed in Pierce County Superior Court, the two were under investigation from October through February, during which time they allegedly committed a number of armed robberies at local retailers and restaurants. Their targets included Better Vape in University Place, Emerald City Smoothie, and Dreamer Ice Cream in Tacoma. The two also reportedly had a penchant for Subway franchises, and are accused of robbing three Subway restaurants between Dec. 19 - 31, two in Gig Harbor and one in Tacoma. The robberies typically netted them between $150 and $600 per hit.

After gathering evidence linking the two to the crimes, including security footage, cell phone records and a latex glove left at one of the crime scenes, investigators say they determined Dukes and Prophet were responsible for the string of robberies, and obtained warrants for their arrests.

Prophet has been charged with six counts of robbery. He was arraigned on Wednesday and is being held on $500,000 bail. Dukes faces ten charges of first degree robbery, and has not yet been arraigned.