Waynesboro robbery suspect cleared

WAYNESBORO — The first suspect in a September Waynesboro armed robbery that caused authorities to close a school has been cleared of any wrongdoing, police said Friday.

Marquell A. Diggs, 28, of Staunton, was initially charged after witnesses mistakenly said he was involved with a group that robbed three people on Albemarle Avenue.

"It was a very chaotic scene," said Sgt. Brian Edwards of the Waynesboro Police Department. "We felt compelled to act with the probable cause we had and sought the warrants.

Police charged Diggs with armed robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after he voluntarily turned himself in.

However, following his arrest, Edwards said Diggs was adamant that he had nothing to do with the armed robbery. Edwards said for the first few days of the investigation, several officers and detectives worked on confirming Diggs' alibi, which never changed.

"We corroborated it, and it was solid," Edwards said.

Diggs was released from jail a few days after the robbery, and the charges were dropped about a week later.

Edwards said the focus on clearing Diggs temporarily stalled the case, but on Thursday charges against four other suspects were announced:

» Keith D. Hargrove, 19, of Waynesboro, armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

» Amber S. Clark, 19, of Waynesboro, armed robbery.

» Ty Q. P. Gregory, 19, of Charlottesville, armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

» A 17-year-old Waynesboro juvenile is charged with armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Gregory remains at-large.

On Sept. 18, the armed home invasion took place in the 1000 block of Albemarle Avenue shortly before 8 a.m. Police said the suspects knocked on the door of an apartment and then forced their way into the residence with guns drawn.

Three victims said the suspects put guns in their faces and demanded money. The suspects fled, taking an undetermined amount of cash and a victim's cellphone, according to police.

Because the robbery took place near Berkeley Glenn Elementary School, a brief lockdown was initiated.