Winchester police arrest suspect in armed robbery

Winchester police arrested one suspect and are seeking another in an armed robbery that occurred earlier in the day on North Loudoun Street.

The following press release was issued by police on Thursday evening:

On Thursday July 8, 2010 at approximately 1300 p.m. (1 p.m.) Winchester Police were called to the lobby of the Timbrook Public Safety building to speak with the victim of an armed robbery that had occurred earlier in the day.

The victim reported to officers that at approximately 11:30 a.m. he was inside the common area of a residence in the 400 block of North Loudoun Street.

The victim told officers he was approached by two black males who demanded money and one of the suspects displayed a small caliber black handgun. The victim complied with the suspect's request and gave both $130 in cash.

Both suspects then left the area on foot. The victim was not injured or assaulted.

Further investigation enabled officers to identify one of the suspects as Ricky Choka, 44, of Winchester. Choka was later arrested in the 400 block of North Loudoun Street and charged with robbery and use of a firearm in attempting to commit a robbery. He was transported to the Northwest Adult Detention Center and held without bond.

The second suspect is described as a black male in his mid to late 20s wearing a white tank top shirt, blue jean shorts, and has short black hair.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Winchester Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 540-545-4704 or Crimesolvers at 540-665-TIPS (8477).