Man charged in Sumter robbery faces similar Manning charges

By ROBERT BAKER
Item Staff Writer
bbaker@theitem.com

A Manning man is in custody at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center after being arrested Sunday for an Oct. 27 robbery in Sumter.

Bobbie Cherry, 45, of 1132 Viking Court in Manning, was charged with armed robbery Sunday shortly after being released from Tuomey Regional Medical Center following an incident where Cherry allegedly held up a gas station on Broad Street Extension before wrecking his car.

According to reports, a 30-year-old woman working at a Kangaroo station at 2995 Broad St. Extension told police that Cherry got a bottle of water from the store before pointing an unknown object from under his shirt, saying "give me all your money."

The clerk said she opened the drawer and gave Cherry an undetermined amount of money before he fled in a gold Ford Taurus and turned right on Stamey Livestock Road.

Reports indicate that Cherry was found a short time later and required medical attention.

"I believe he had some broken bones and maybe a back injury," Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson said.

Cherry is also facing similar charges from the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office relating to a robbery at Moore Food Store on 6181 Alex Harvin Highway in Manning on Oct. 26.

A police report states that a 29-year-old woman told police a man matching Cherry's description had robbed the store about 9 p.m. The report does not elaborate further.

Patterson said Cherry was granted a $25,000 surety bond on Monday, but officers asked the court to reconsider.

"We ... asked the court about revisiting the bond hearing because of (Cherry's) extensive criminal record and due to these two incidents being so close together," Patterson said.

Cherry's bond was raised to $200,000 during Monday's hearing. Patterson could not be reached for comment on that hearing, but did say Cherry would remain in custody in Sumter if he could not make bond.

"I know that the Clarendon County Sheriff's Department had also asked for him to be held in relation to their charges," Patterson said. "We have some concerns about him being a flight risk as well as being out on bond and committing another crime. It's a concern for the safety and welfare of the citizens we serve."



Contact Staff Writer Robert Baker at bbaker@theitem.com or (803) 435-8511.