Police look into pair of Fort Scott robberies

By Michael Glover

Herald-Tribune

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Police arrested a Fort Scott man Thursday and are currently searching for his alleged accomplice in connection with back-to-back robberies that occurred early Thursday morning.

Moses Lee Burton, 25, 501 Couch St., was arrested at 11:08 p.m., Thursday, for robbery and aggravated robbery. He is currently in custody at the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center in Fort Scott.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Thursday, police took a report from Dakota Cox, 22, 511 Couch St. He told officers he had been followed while out walking around by Moses and a white male who police are looking to question. The two suspects allegedly cornered Cox and beat him up, told Cox to empty his pockets, and stole a pack of cigarettes, Lt. Travis Shelton said. No weapons were used in the attack. Cox was uninjured in the incident.

About an hour later, while patrolling an area near north National Avenue and Elm Street, officers talked to Michael D. Long, 43. He told officers that as he was walking two people beat him up and stole his wallet containing $2. The suspects fit the same descriptions as those given in the first robbery and are believed to be the same people, Shelton said.

Paramedics evaluated Long at the scene. It's not known what injuries Long suffered, but officials said they believe the injuries to be non-life threatening.

The suspects were on foot while allegedly robbing Long and Cox, Shelton said.