Two suspects face charges in Arco robbery

A 14-year-old boy and 19-year-old man appeared in court Thursday on suspicion of robbing an east Vancouver gas station by holding a clerk and customer at knifepoint.

D’Anthony L. Williams, 14, and Cedric W. McNeal, 19, both of Vancouver, each face a charge of first-degree robbery.

Clark County Court Commissioner Dayann Liebman ordered Williams to remain in the Juvenile Detention Center at least until his arraignment hearing Tuesday. She appointed Vancouver attorney John Lutgens to defend him in Juvenile Court. Superior Court Judge John Nichols held McNeal in lieu of $500,000 bail and appointed Vancouver attorney Tonya Rulli to defend him. His arraignment hearing is set for Aug. 14.

Williams and McNeal allegedly entered the Arco AM/PM at 116 N.E. 164th Ave. early Wednesday. McNeal held a knife to the throat of an employee, according to a court affidavit. The employee was cut on his hand during an initial struggle.

Meanwhile, Williams forced a male customer into a store cooler by holding a knife to his throat and demanded money from him and a female customer, the affidavit says.

The suspects allegedly stole some merchandise, including cigarettes, from the store and then fled to a nearby house in the 15600 block of Southeast First Street, where a witness saw them enter.

Vancouver police conducted a search of the house and located the suspects, as well as 12 unopened packs of cigarettes believed to have been stolen in the robbery, the affidavit says. Police also found clothing the suspects were seen wearing in surveillance video of the incident, according to court documents.