Midwest City police helped Cleveland County deputies arrest an 18-year-old man Thursday, Oct. 15, in connection with an armed robbery at a marijuana grow operation where authorities say two workers were struck with firearms.
Reaginald D. Wilson was the sixth suspect arrested in the investigation into the Oct. 2 robbery near 180th and Box Road in southern Cleveland County, KFOR reported. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant in Midwest City on Thursday, Oct. 15, with help from the Midwest City Police Department.
Wilson has been charged with first-degree burglary, conjoint robbery, trafficking a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. KFOR reported Oct. 15 that Wilson was being held at the Cleveland County Detention Center on a $60,000 bond.
The robbery unfolded around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, when masked gunmen allegedly stormed the grow operation. Cleveland County Sheriff Darrell Weaver described the violence to KFOR.
"We had an incident where one of the victims was struck with what we believe is an AK-47, the butt of an AK-47 rifle," Weaver told KFOR. A second victim was pistol-whipped during the robbery, Weaver said.
A neighbor who called 911 told KFOR he saw four masked men carrying large blue totes as they fled the property.
Five suspects were arrested before Wilson. Among the five previously arrested were three adults facing felony charges: Andre Whittenberg is charged with robbery by force or fear, first-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Tommy Faretra faces those charges plus second-degree burglary and larceny of a motor vehicle. Both Whittenberg and Faretra are held at the Cleveland County Detention Center on $750,000 bonds.
Ronald Hopper is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, drug trafficking and using a firearm while committing a felony. He is held at the Oklahoma County Jail on a $750,000 bond. Two juveniles are held at the Alan J. Couch Juvenile Detention Center.
The investigation involved the Oklahoma City Police Department's Violent Crime Apprehension Team (VCAT), OKC's Violent Crimes Investigation Unit, the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). Investigators recovered more than 25 pounds of marijuana, four handguns and a shotgun, KFOR reported.
Weaver told KFOR the robbery appeared well-planned and may be connected to a group targeting grow operations across the state.
The investigation remains ongoing. Officials said an additional juvenile arrest may occur as investigators continue to pursue leads.
Anyone with information can contact the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.
