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Robbery charge in Rochester case dropped against Omatie [Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H. :: ]
[July 11, 2014]

Robbery charge in Rochester case dropped against Omatie [Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H. :: ]


(Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, NH) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 11--ROCHESTER -- An assistant county attorney dropped the armed robbery charge against Okiemute "Leo" Omatie, who had been accused of robbing a woman last month while threatening her with a knife at Rochester Residence Inn, where robbery suspect Tasha Loaiza allegedly stole heroin out of the victim's bra.



Although the Rochester charge won't be prosecuted, Omatie is still facing a felony robbery charge out of Dover, which alleges he struck a male with a taser on Locust Street and then beat him while he was on the ground, stealing his medication and electronics.

According to Police Capt. Gary Boudreau, the Rochester charge was dropped after police received new information from the robbery victim. Police then contacted the county attorney's office to have the charge nolle prossed, meaning not prosecuted.


Thursday's scheduled probable cause hearing for the Rochester robbery charge was canceled after Assistant County Attorney Dorothy Walch nolle prossed the charge. Neither Walch nor police would elaborate on what new information the victim gave to police.

A probable cause hearing for the Dover robbery charge is scheduled for next week at Dover Circuit Court.

Omatie, 19, of 28 Fifth St., Dover, is being held at Strafford County jail on $10,000 cash bail.

Both the Rochester and Dover robberies occurred on June 15.

That morning, at Rochester Residence Inn on Milton Road, the female victim woke up to a knock at the door. She answered the door to Tasha Loaiza, 21, of Rochester, whom she knew, and as she entered the room, a black male unknown to the victim entered behind her. The male suspect then began going through the victim's dresser drawers while threatening her with a knife, pushing the weapon against her throat several times, police say. The male suspect also took about $500 from the victim, and Loaiza reportedly pulled down the victim's bra and stole about three grams of heroin.

Loaiza is currently free on bail and is being supervised with GPS by Strafford County Community Corrections Program. She is ordered to live on Green Street in Somersworth. Her felony robbery case was recently transferred to Strafford County Superior Court, where a grand jury will consider whether to indict her.

Omatie had been arrested in connection with the Rochester robbery after Rochester police received tips through Crimeline and other police departments about him being a possible suspect. According to a police affidavit, the robbery victim confidently identified Omatie as the male suspect out of a lineup.

The Dover incident occurred in the evening of June 15. Omatie, and 27-year-old Phillip Swanson who lives with him, allegedly entered the victim's apartment on Locust Street and Omatie assaulted the victim with a taser before punching and kicking him when he fell to the ground. The two suspects then rummaged through the apartment, stealing a laptop, a computer tablet, audio speakers, and medications including suboxone strips and clonopin.

A woman who lives in the building with Omatie and Swanson later told police, upon questioning, that Swanson had asked Omatie to rob a man who owed Swanson money.

Both Swanson and Omatie are scheduled to appear at Dover Circuit Court Wednesday for a probable cause hearing on the felony robbery charge.

Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau said Thursday that police are still looking to identify the male suspect in the Residence Inn robbery. Anyone with information about his identify is encouraged to call police at 330-7127.

___ (c)2014 the Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.) Visit the Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.) at www.fosters.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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