A Jefferson City man was arrested Thursday on robbery charges.
According to police reports, police received a call about noon Thursday concerning a robbery in the 600 block of Washington Street.
According to the victim, a man approached him in that area and demanded money and threatened the use of a gun. The victim had just cashed a lottery ticket at a nearby convenience store and was followed outside by the suspect, 19-year-old Demarcus Ranson of Jefferson City. Ranson then approached the victim on Washington, grabbed him by the shirt and then began to punch him in the face. Ranson demanded money, then lifted his shirt which revealed what appeared to be the outline of a handgun in an attempt to further threaten the victim. The victim reached into his clothing and produced $15 in cash and gave it to Ranson, who then fled the area on foot.
Officers and the department's K-9 Unit responded to the area to search for Ranson who was eventually located at a residence in the 700 block of Adams. Ranson, who had changed his clothing, was taken into custody for the robbery. A plastic toy gun was found in the residence where Ranson was hiding and was associated with the robbery.
Ranson was charged Friday with one count of second-degree robbery.