Second arrest made in Fayetteville, Hope Mills store robberies

Ashley Michelle Simmons, 26, of the 500 block of Halifax Drive, was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Simmons is believed to have acted as a get-away driver for John Michael Volpicelli, who was believed to have robbed a Kangaroo at 2326 Owen Drive in Fayetteville on Friday night and a Kangaroo at 1960 Cedar Creek Road on Thursday night.

Fayetteville police charged Volpicelli with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, and the Hope Mills Police Department charged him with robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping.

Simmons was apprehended by police in the 900 block of Poplar Drive on Monday. She was being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under $200,000 secured bond.

Fayetteville police said Wednesday that Volpicelli, 38, of the 5100 block of Hayden Lane, faces additional charges of two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. He was being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under $233,000 secured bond.

Police said that a citizen tip led to the arrest of Volpicelli and the information about Simmons’ involvement in the crimes.