LMPD makes 'significant' arrests of 2 accused serial robbers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police arrested two suspected serial robbers believed to be responsible for a "significant" number of business robberies in the Louisville area.

Anthony Miller, 25, and Phillip Stewart, 30, were both arrested Monday evening. They are facing several counts of first-degree robbery.

Police said the pair are accomplices and committed several armed robberies over the past few weeks, including:

A Jan. 11 robbery, just after 9 p.m., of the Penn Station restaurant at 2204 Heather Lane
A Feb. 2 robbery, just before 5:30 p.m., of the Family Dollar located at 3417 Breckenridge Lane
Another Feb. 2 robbery at the Speedway gas station at 12102 Shelbyville Road
A Feb. 21 robbery, just before midnight, of the Speedway gas station at 7002 Shepherdsville Road.
A Feb. 22 robbery, just after midnight, of the Circle K gas station at 12415 Taylorsville Road.

Police said that in each case, Stewart would either accompany Miller into the business and rob it at gunpoint or act as a lookout while Stewart and a third accomplice robbed it.

In addition to the above incidents, police said Miller is charged in other robberies with an accomplice:

A Jan. 11 robbery, just before 2 a.m., of the Speedway gas station at 4239 Poplar Level Road
A Feb. 28 robbery, just after 6 p.m., of the Family Dollar at 6821 Southside Drive
Another Feb. 28 robbery, just before 7 p.m., of the Family Dollar at 7100 Preston Highway

Lt. Mindy Vance, commander of the LMPD Robbery Unit, said the suspects even had a nickname.

"The suspects eventually acquired the name of Double Tappers given their particular M.O. of robbing businesses in succession," she said.

Police said Miller was captured after leading officers on a chase. He was eventually taken into custody near the intersection of Heather Lane and Bardstown Road. He's charged with eight counts of first-degree robbery, one count of first-degree fleeing or evading police via a motor vehicle and seven counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

"These are armed business robberies," said Detective Dan Mason with the LMPD Robbery Unit. "So they're coming in, brandishing firearms and demanding cash from the business. So I would say that's violent."

Police said Miller and Stewart have confessed to the robberies, including those in Jeffersontown and Middletown. Stewart is charged with five counts of first-degree robbery.

"They admitted to their part in the robberies, and we're confident we have the right guys," Mason said.

Both men are in custody at Louisville Metro Corrections, and police believe they have the identity of the third suspect.