THP State Troopers Catch Wanted Armed Robbery Suspects

CASH AND STOLEN CHECKS RECOVERED

Nashville, Tennessee --- Two suspected armed robbers are being held tonight in the McMinn County jail after being stopped by a Tennessee State Trooper for speeding.  It happened just after 12:30 p.m. (EST), Sunday, August 17, 2008, on Interstate 75 southbound.

Trooper Charles Melhorn spotted a P.T. Cruiser speeding along I-75 south near mile marker 55 in McMinn County.  The vehicle, driven by 27-year old Robert A. Stafford of Winchester, Kentucky, was traveling 85 in a 70 miles per hour zone.  Trooper Melhorn stopped the P.T. Cruiser, which had been rented from a company in Kentucky, and discovered that Stafford, a convicted felon, was driving on a suspended driver license. 

Stafford and his passenger, 26-year old Nicki S. Fee from Wilmington, Kentucky, could not produce a rental agreement for the vehicle.  According to Trooper Melhorn, both suspects acted visibly nervous when he questioned them, and that is when he called for back-up.  After Trooper Kevin Hoppe arrived, the couple gave consent for the vehicle to be searched.  Trooper Hoppe quickly discovered a large amount of cash and checks inside the car.  It is believed that the money and the checks were stolen during the armed robbery of a bingo hall in Kentucky the evening before. 

Both Stafford and Fee were taken into custody and booked into the McMinn County Justice Center.  They are awaiting extradition to Clark County, Kentucky.  The pair is also wanted for auto theft in Kentucky.