Man charged with robbing Asheville store twice, taking $18,000

ASHEVILLE – A man is behind bars on charges of robbing the same Asheville store twice, stealing more than $18,000 in cash.

Guillermo Mendez Negrete, 40, of Hendersonville, was charged Sunday with two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to warrants at the Buncombe County magistrate's office.

Negrete is accused of robbing the Chapala Tienda grocery store at 2144 Hendersonville Road on Sunday and on Nov. 25, Asheville police Sgt. Dave Romick said.

Sunday's robbery happened shortly after 7:30 p.m. when the suspect entered the store, pointed a gun at a female clerk and demanded money, Romick said. The man then fled on foot.

"APD saturated the area around the store and south to the area of Blake Drive and Royal Pines Drive," Romick said. "The suspect was located on Royal Pines Drive with over $12,000 and the handgun used in the robbery."

Detectives were able to link Negrete to the November robbery at the store, Romick said.

According to arrest documents, Negrete is accused of taking $12,037.13 in cash in Sunday's robbery. In the Nov. 25 robbery, he's accused of taking $6,833.92, according to warrants.

The suspect used a .22-caliber revolver in the robberies, according to warrants.

Negrete is being held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $50,000 secured bond.