Wanted felon found in jail

Published 12:30 am Thursday, March 2, 2017

(AP) — A man sought in an armed robbery from Saturday night was already in jail on unrelated charges before police identified him, Biloxi police Detective Matthew DeDual said.

Charles Wayne Tharpe, 37, had been sought on six felony charges, including three residential burglary charges from a month ago in Biloxi. The homes were burglarized between Jan. 18 and Jan. 26.

Biloxi police arrested Tharpe on those charges Sunday, the day after an armed robbery was reported about 9 p.m. in the 100 block of Porter Avenue. Tharpe is accused of robbing the victim at gunpoint of $500 at an ATM.

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Video surveillance footage recorded around Porter Avenue took pictures of the robber, DeDual said. Police released pictures Wednesday, asking for help with the man’s identity.

Police searched Tharpe’s home and found evidence linking him to the holdup, and investigators confronted him later Wednesday, DeDual said.