CHAMPAIGN — A 22-year-old Champaign man who apparently thought he could outrun two Ironman triathletes was arrested Wednesday.
Sgt. Dave Griffet said Lamont Taylor-Gwin, 22, whose last known address was in the 100 block of East Washington Street, was being questioned Wednesday afternoon about his alleged participation in an armed robbery earlier Wednesday.
Griffet said a man and woman who were walking near the intersection of First and Washington streets about 1:25 a.m. reported they were robbed at gunpoint of a backpack that contained cash and clothing. Griffet said the victims knew their assailant.
Late Wednesday morning, Griffet and fellow detective Dale Rawdin were out following up on other cases when Rawdin spotted Taylor-Gwin.
About 11:45 a.m. at Second and Ash streets, they got out of their car to speak with him and he ran.
After a foot pursuit of a few minutes, Taylor-Gwin was arrested by the pair for resisting a peace officer.
"He was faster than us at the start, but we stayed with him," said Griffet, 46, who along with Rawdin, 51, has competed in multiple Ironman competitions.
Court records indicate Taylor-Gwin is on parole after 2009 convictions for robbery and aggravated robbery for holdups he admitted committing in Champaign.
Get the armed robbers who prey on innocents(?). Good work. Thank You.