Couple accused of armed robbery
City pair allegedly robbed drug seeker at gunpoint
Silver
Walls
Silver
Walls
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An alleged drug deal turned sour Wednesday near Prospect Park, resulting in an Altoona couple being charged for armed robbery, court documents stated.
Crystal Walls, 35, and Brandon Silver, 29, are facing numerous firearms- and theft-related charges after a woman told police they took her money, gave her fake methamphetamine and forced her out of their vehicle at gunpoint, according to court documents.
Silver allegedly communicated with the victim through Facebook about selling meth to her, and set up the exchange location at Prospect Park, police reported.
The victim waited in an alley near the park until she was picked up by Silver and Walls in a blue Pontiac.
The three drove around the block discussing drug prices, before settling on $160 for the amount the victim requested, court documents stated.
As the victim pulled money from her wallet and counted it, Silver allegedly grabbed the money and the wallet before tossing a dark-colored, plastic bag at her and telling her to get out of the vehicle, police reported.
When the victim demanded her money back, Silver allegedly reached for a firearm, which he is prohibited from possessing because of prior felony convictions, pointed the handgun at her and told the victim to exit the vehicle, a criminal complaint states.
The victim said she would notify police, and Silver allegedly threatened to kill her if she did, police reported.
Silver and Walls were discovered by police sitting in a blue Pontiac at the Cedar Grove Motel, where they told the victim they sourced the meth, court documents stated.
According to surveillance footage, Silver and Walls did not exit the vehicle at the motel after the robbery report, police reported.
After the duo were arrested, a tow truck driver entered the vehicle to shift its gears into neutral so it could be impounded, police reported. In doing so, the tow truck driver's foot connected with a large object under the driver's side floor mat, revealing the rear sight of a firearm, according to a criminal complaint.
Once in custody, both Walls and Silver tried to deceive investigators about their involvement in the incident, but Walls allegedly "began to tell the truth" after police confronted her with some of the details revealed by the victim, court documents stated.
Walls allegedly told police she was aware of Silver's intention to "burn" the victim, because he said the victim spoke negatively about the couple and was "dope sick," police reported.
The firearm was purchased by Walls, and she said she didn't know how Silver obtained it for the robbery, but she was aware he was prohibited from possessing firearms, according to police.
Typically, the firearm was kept in a safe at the couple's residence, Walls allegedly told police.
Silver allegedly attempted to lie about the robbery until police showed him Facebook messages from the victim's account and told him Walls already confirmed some details about the robbery, court documents stated.
The robbery was planned by three people, with the third supplying the fake meth and waiting at Cedar Grove Motel for a cut of the profits, Silver allegedly told police. An investigation is underway regarding the involvement of a third person, police reported.
Walls was aware of the firearm in the vehicle, and encouraged him to use it with a nod of her head when the victim refused to exit the vehicle, according to Silver's account in a criminal complaint.
Silver also told police the black safe at the couple's residence was for storing illegal drugs, not the handgun, which was kept loaded and in the car, court documents stated.
After searching the vehicle, police discovered the firearm with a loaded magazine and a round in the chamber, a criminal complaint stated.
The victim reported $387 was stolen from her, and police reported they discovered $372 on Silver, who allegedly admitted to taking it from the victim's purse and placing it in his wallet.
Walls and Silver were arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Ben Jones, and neither were able to post their $250,000 cash bails, court documents stated. Both are being detained at Blair County Prison and preliminary hearings have been scheduled with Jones for May 5, according to court documents.
Mirror Staff Writer Ike Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.