Two arrested in armed robberies

Lawrence residents await charges in county jail; police expect more arrests

Two men arrested in connection with area armed robberies — including the invasion of an apartment and an attack on a teenager — had their bail set, but weren’t formally charged Friday.

Lawrence Police officers picked up Antonio Cortez Broom, 18, and Darius Pierre Trammell, 21, both of Lawrence, early Friday morning in connection with aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

“Police are still investigating the cases,” Assistant Dist. Atty. Bethany Fields said on Friday afternoon. She said Broom and Trammell likely would be charged on Monday.

Lawrence Police Sgt. Dan Ward said more arrests were expected in connection with the robberies.

The police arrested Broom and Trammell in connection with a home-invasion robbery earlier this week.

Police suspected that Broom and Trammell, along with two other men, entered an apartment in the 1000 block of Mississippi on Tuesday night. Two residents and a guest were in the apartment at the time.

One of the suspects was armed with a handgun, according to police. Ward said no one was hurt during the robbery, but that the four suspects stole several items, including clothing and video games.

Broom also was arrested in connection with a robbery on Dec. 1 in the 2400 block of Louisiana. In that case, a 17-year-old boy was robbed in a parking lot. Four suspects, two with handguns, kicked and hit the boy before taking his cell phone. The boy received some minor facial injuries, Ward said.

The two men are being held at the Douglas County Jail.

Judge Pro Tem Peggy Kittel set Broom’s bond at $150,000 based on the recommendation of Fields, who cited the “violent nature” of the crimes involved and Broom’s failure to cooperate in the pretrial investigation.

Kittel set Trammell’s bond at $75,000.