Police arrest suspect in sexual assault and robbery at Queen St. grocery
Provided
Ronald Mark Simmons
CHARLESTON — Charleston police have arrested an 18-year-old man accused of robbing the Queen Street Grocery and sexually assaulting a clerk.
"A citizen saw him and called police, and we went and picked him up," Francis said.
He said a tip led police to issue the warrants. "I'd like to thank the public for their assistance in identifying a suspect."
The surveillance video from the incident was broadcast on TV and at Charleston.net.
Simmons has no convictions in South Carolina, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.
A sign Tuesday on the front door of the business said the store will reopen at 7:30 a.m. today.
A woman who is a cashier at the store was attacked about 9:30 a.m. Saturday, according to a police report. When her back was turned, a man came behind the counter and put a box cutter to her neck, the report said.
The man stopped at a cooler for a bottle of champagne before he forced her into the restroom and sexually assaulted her, the report said. The report did not detail what happened to the woman, and Francis refused to answer specific questions.
After the assault, the man forced the cashier back to the front of the store and demanded money from the register, the report said. It said he also took a box of cigars and the woman's cell phone and driver's license.
Noah Haglund contributed to this report. Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
lippjam (anonymous) says...
4 fing days to find this out. Why so slow Charleston Police Dept? You should be ashamed. Lets get out and find this criminal now.
January 29, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lippjam (anonymous) says...
Ronald Mark Simmons was picked up on cocaine charges on 1/9/08 and he was some how already back on the streets to committ these crimes. What are the judges in Charleston County really doing?
Look up at: http://www3.charlestoncounty.org/surf...
Enter criminals name as:Simmons, Ronald M
January 29, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lippjam (anonymous) says...
I have reason to believe that Ronald Mark Simmons grew up in Gadsden Green (no income-government housing between Queen and Beaufain) and the Charleston Police Dept. did not want the news of this rape and robbery to shed more light on the other robberies that took place when the group of 11-15 year olds from this same housing complex committed a crime. The Charleston Police Dept. promised us that they could secure the area and obviously this is not the case. The people in this housing complex need to be removed and the land sold to a developer who will build us some $600,000 condos. I know this sounds terrible, but rape in our backyard is even worse.
January 29, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
Just because you were not privy to the details in an investigation, do you really believe the police were doing nothing? The judicial system in our country is favorable to the suspects and criminals - if the police don't cross every "t" and dot every "i" some sleazy lawyer will get the arrest and case thrown out on a technicality.
Take it up with the judges who keep putting these inhuman pieces of trash on the street. The judges and the judicial system are the problem!
January 29, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madamvoter (anonymous) says...
The victim is white and does not know her attacker. The rapist is black. (Answers to previous questions from other board) Rapist name is Ronald Mark Simmons and his birthday is 7/17/89. He is 6/2 and 160 lbs. Drivers license # is 100186821. He is currently out on bond for posession of cocaine with intent to distribute near a school.
This is all public record. His last known address was Bush Avenue in North Charleston. His last telephone number was 926-5761 (cut off now)
Now.......does anyone know where he is tonight?? Contact the police..They will get him.
Lets help the police get him off the street.
Additional photo at
http://www.wciv.com/news/stories/0108/49...
January 29, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Born_n_raisedowntown (anonymous) says...
Posted by lippjam (anonymous) on January 29, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have reason to believe that Ronald Mark Simmons grew up in Gadsden Green (no income-government housing between Queen and Beaufain) and the Charleston Police Dept. did not want the news of this rape and robbery to shed more light on the other
-----------------------------------------------------------
Go jump off a roof clown.
And by the way Gadsden Green is on President Street. You dont have a clue on what you are talking about.
January 29, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlaQue896 (anonymous) says...
I agree with any reasonable person that the actions of this young man are horrible, but must we always comment as if we are perfect. All of us are just one wrong choice away from making a life-altering mistake. Considering, that none of us are perfect, stop bashing others who do there jobs according to what is required (specifically our officers and judges), and view this situation for what it is... the decision of the individual. Lippjam, regarding the matter of why the young man was out of jail, well, wouldn't you agree that Al Parish, Thomas Ravenel... etc should still be locked, they appear to be just as much of a law breaker as this young man?
January 29, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MotoryachtSoCo (anonymous) says...
BalQue - Let's save the space in prison for the violent offenders. Protect my family and my friends from people like Simmons.
If they let Ravenel and Parish out with some government issued braclet that's fine with me. Just make sure the violent punks stay put behind bars where they belong.
I think CPD does a pretty poor job of protecting us from these thugs. They are beyond slow to respond to most calls South of Broad, when I ask why they have no excuse.
On the other hand I'm glad they caught the guy.
January 29, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chancellor (anonymous) says...
Madam...what the hell are you talking about??? This article headline states "Police arrest suspect in sexual assault and robbery at Queen St. grocery". What part of arrest are you having trouble with.
January 29, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MotoryachtSoCo (anonymous) says...
Chancellor at 8:00PM the headline still said police seek help....
I wasn't until much later that they updated the headling and the body of the article.
January 29, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nochasgirl (anonymous) says...
I believe the story was updated after the arrest. Earlier it said that a suspect had been identified.
January 29, 2008 at 10:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madamvoter (anonymous) says...
Chancellor...I have been following this very closely. My post went up just a few minutes before they arrested him. They posted his photo and name at 5:02pm and did not change the time when they posted the arrest announcement. Why would the timing of my post bother you?? You obviously have not been following the fact that there were 3 seperate articles and 3 seperate boards. You sound like an angry person. I bet you are fun to be around. Try to calm down. My post should not throw you into a frenzy......You could ignore it instead of showing anger toward me. How ridiculous!!!!! Oh wait.....are you friends with that Ronald Simmons??? That must be it.
January 29, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TacrolimusAddict (anonymous) says...
Ronald Mark Simmons has provided us with the opportunity to prove Einstein's theory that Mr. Westinghouse's AC is more dangerous than Mr. Einsteine's DC.
January 29, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nochasgirl (anonymous) says...
Also, from the video, the victim's hand is shown, and it appears that she is white-not that it matters to me. Just answering a previous question.
I'm glad that he has been arrested, and hope that he is indeed the right guy.
January 29, 2008 at 10:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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