EATON — On Monday, Aug. 29, a warrant was expected to be issued for the arrest of a man suspected in an armed robbery at a residence on U.S. 35 West on Friday, Aug. 19.

Francis P. Sumner, 51, whose last known residence was in Massachussets, was formally charged in Eaton Municipal Court on Monday.

According to Sheriff Mike Simpson, Preble County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the armed robbery which occurred at approximately 8 a.m. on Aug. 19, in the 8600 block of U.S. 35 West.

Simpson said the victim reported he arrived at the property and found a male subject inside a detached garage.

The suspect was in possession of a rifle and pointed it at the victim, ordering the victim to turn over his cell phone,” Simpson reported. “The suspect then walked the victim outside where the suspect stole the victim’s truck and fled.”

Simpson said the suspect’s physical description was similar to that of a suspect who was believed to be in a stolen vehicle in the eastbound rest area of Interstate 70 on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 18, at approximately 4:30 p.m.. Identifiers from I-70 rest area incident were used to compile a photo line-up, and those were presented to the robbery victim.

Simpson said the victim was able to identify the suspect involved in the armed robbery as being the same person involved in the stolen vehicle which was recovered in the rest area.

Deputies identified the suspect as Sumner. According to officials, Sumner has a criminal history in at least five states.

Sumner was charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; theft from a person in a protected class (elderly,) a fourth-degree felony; grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony; breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony and petty theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.