DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Police arrested four men after a traffic stop in Chesterfield Thursday morning charging them in relation to the Dinwiddie County McDonald's robbery earlier Thursday.
According to court documents, all four are also facing gang-related charges in Dinwiddie County. Documents state that the four suspects are charged with participating in a criminal act and one man is also charged with recruiting.
"The local law enforcement jurisdiction has to be able to show that these people were actively involved in a gang and two, this particular offense is somehow related to that gang activity," said Steve Neal, a retired police commander .
Neal said it could have been some sort of gang crime or initiation. He said gangs are common in bigger cities. But activity is increasing all over Virginia, even in more rural areas like Dinwiddie County.
"They're going to have to take a look and see what other type of activity, other types of crimes that these individuals or other associated gang members might be involved in," said Neal.
Sallie Baskerville, who has lived in Dinwiddie for over 60 years, said this is the first she's heard of any possible gang activity.
She said she doesn't think the charges will change the way people view the area.
"We are so close to the interstate, so it doesn't have to be anybody out here. You have people coming in and out all the time," she said.
Police haven't yet confirmed that the men arrested are involved in a string of robberies that happened in multiple counties. However, multiple police sources told CBS 6 they believe they are linked.
