Two men from out of state remain in custody at the Platte County Detention Center, charged for their roles in a robbery that occurred late at night Sunday, Jan. 25 in Platte City.
Trea Ouellette, 22, faces one felonious account of second-degree robbery, while Laverne Reffitt, 21, faces the same count of robbery along with a felony for possession of a controlled substance at a county jail without a prescription. Charges were filed late Monday, Jan. 26.
According to a probable cause statement, the men hitched a ride from Casey’s General Store, and a short time later, they beat and robbed their victim, stealing about $300 cash in a failed carjacking.
Originally, Platte City police officers responded at about 11:30 p.m. to Casey’s in regard to a suspicious vehicle. They located a black Oldsmobile backed into Muller Mechanical — located next to the convenience store.
Employees at Casey’s said two black males, later identified as Ouellette and Reffitt, and an unknown female were in the store and possibly stealing items. Eventually, the two males left in a white Toyota Avalon, while the female exited the parking lot in the black Oldsmobile observed at the adjacent business.
Upon making contact with the female, still inside the parked car, she verbally identified herself as Rosalia Roman but was later found to be 19-year-old Alicia Reynolds.
While talking with Reynolds, the officers received a domestic disturbance call and were dispatched to 1126 2nd St. They arrived and determined the call to be an armed robbery and attempted car theft.
The victim told officers that Ouellette and Reffitt approached him in the parking lot and asked for a ride to a nearby apartment. He obliged and was told to stop upon reaching 2nd Street.
At that time, Ouelette — the front passenger — began punching the victim, while Reffitt exited the back seat, came around to the driver’s side and opened the door.
Reffitt pulled the victim from the vehicle, and a knife was held to his throat while his wallet and about $300 in cash were taken. Due to the vehicles safety features, the suspects could not start the car, and they took off on foot when they saw officers approaching the scene.
After a search of the area, a Platte County Sherrif’s Office sergeant located Ouellette and Reffitt near Paxton Street.
Ouellette did not have any of the victim’s property on him, but Reffitt’s pockets contained a total of more than $500 in cash and two baggies of a green leafy substance. Another sergeant with sheriff’s office located cards belonging to the victim near where the suspects were apprehended.
The victim then identified Ouellette and Reffitt as his attackers.
Both were taken into custody along with Reynolds. Ouellette and Reffitt declined to speak with authorities, while their alleged accomplice helped fill in some details under questioning.
Reynolds, who was found to have a cell phone in her vagina upon a search at the jail, said they had come to Kansas City for a rave party and were attempting a ‘gas and go’ to return home. Ouellette’s address is listed as Omaha, Neb., while Reffitt’s is in Sioux Falls, S.D., according to the probable cause statement.
Unable to steal the gasoline, they tried on some sunglasses and took some brake cleaner and Swisher Sweet cigars from the counter, according to a review of video surveillance footage. After observing the victim and his girlfriend go to the ATM, the pair followed them outside.
Reynolds said they had been at various Wal-Marts, CVS Pharmacy stores and convenience stores stealing items after leaving the party.
Ouellette faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the robbery charge, while Reffitt could get up 25 years, because in addition to the robbery, he was found to have numerous pills identified as high-dosage morphine and Klonopin — a benzodiazepine used to control seizures or panic disorders — on his person when booked at the detention center.
Reynolds has not been charged.
Ouellette and Reffitt are being held on $100,000 cash-only bonds.