Following a short standoff that lasted about 45 minutes, a Georgia man and a La Grange woman were taken into custody Monday morning for a Falling Creek store robbery that occurred Friday and for a robbery of a tobacco shop on Nov. 3 in La Grange.

Otavious Marquez McCord, 34, of Griffin, Ga., and Monica Mayo Munoz, 39, of La Grange were arrested Monday at 3356 Kurt Drive in La Grange following the standoff with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT). The pair were suspects in an armed robbery that happened at the Falling Creek Store, 2278 Falling Creek Road, Kinston, on Friday around 7:30 p.m.

They are also suspected of a robbery of the Lions Tobacco and Vape store, 304 E. Washington St., La Grange, a few minutes after 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.

The pair were arrested after the LCSO SRT, along with detectives with the LCSO’s General Investigation Division, executed a search warrant at the Kurt Drive residence. Munoz came out immediately but McCord would not comply with commands from the SRT even after gas (oleoresin capsicum or "pepper spray”) was used. The SRT made entry into the residence with a Bearcat vehicle after several warnings and arrested McCord.

McCord was charged with:

·      Two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon

·      Two counts of obtaining property by false pretense

·      Possession of stolen goods

·      Possession with intent to sell or distribute methamphetamine (found in the space he was hiding this morning)

·      Being a fugitive out of state

He was processed and given no bond due to being on pretrial release. This isn’t McCord’s first brush with the LCSO this year; in April, he was arrested by the LCSO SRT for being a fugitive from Georgia on felony weapons charges.

Munoz was charged with conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense; she received a $10,000 secured bond.

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LA GRANGE, N.C. — Two individuals were arrested following a 45-minute standoff with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) on Tuesday morning in the 3300 block of Kurt Drive. Authorities identified the suspects as Otavious Marquz McCord, 34, of Georgia, and Monical Mayo Munoz, 39, of La Grange.

The situation was resolved after 45 minutes, with both McCord and Munoz taken into custody without injuries reported. The Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed additional details about the robbery or the circumstances leading to the standoff.

The case remains under investigation.