Police use social media posts to capture suspect in January armed robbery, assault

After viewing several social media posts, Columbus police linked Rodrie James Taylor to the Jan. 15 armed robbery and pistol-whipping of a man on Apex Road, according to testimony Wednesday in Columbus Recorder's Court.

Taylor, who is one of three suspects in the case, pleaded not guilty to armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, false imprisonment and kidnapping. Judge Michael Cielinski ordered him held in the Muscogee County Jail after denying him bond on multiple charges. The case was bound over to Superior Court.

Columbus police Officer Jason Carden said the victim made arrangements to meet a man at the Popeye's on River Road to sell him tennis shoes.

Authorities said 23-year-old Taylor, 19-year-old Orlandos Kantrell Tatum and another unidentified man showed up to the meeting in a vehicle. The defendant was a backseat passenger in the car, Carden added.

The suspects invited the victim, who walked to the restaurant on foot, into their vehicle. The men took him to an unknown location on Apex Road, where they pistol-whipped and robbed him, police said.

Carden said the men stole the shoes the victim planned to sell along with the shoes on his feet, his wallet and his cellphone.

Carden said the victim was attempting to take a firearm from one of the suspects when it was discharged.

There was no mention of any

one being shot in the report.

At that time, Taylor and the driver exited the vehicle, pulled the victim from the car and assaulted him again, the testifying officer said.

The victim lost his front teeth as a result of the incident, officials said.

Taylor was taken into custody on Friday.

Police said Tatum appeared in Columbus Recorder's Court on Sept. 22, when the faced the same charges as Taylor did Wednesday.

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 9:58 PM with the headline "Police use social media posts to capture suspect in January armed robbery, assault ."