Edwards man makes first court appearance in alleged attempted armed robbery case
An Eagle County man accused of attempting an armed robbery in Avon and burglarizing a jewelry store in Vail in October made his first court appearance on Tuesday at the Eagle County courthouse.
Edwards resident Mamadou Sow, 40, is also on probation in a previous case from 2023 involving a felony menacing charge along with several misdemeanors and has been accused of violating his probation in that case. Sow is currently in the custody of the Eagle County jail and made his court appearance remotely using WebEx on Tuesday.
Sow used the aid of a French interpreter to hear the status of his cases. In his most recent case, he is facing eight felonies and a misdemeanor, including charges of criminal attempt to commit a crime, aggravated robbery, motor vehicle theft, menacing with a weapon, tampering with evidence, second-degree burglary, theft of $20,000 to $100,000, and criminal mischief of $5,000 to $20,000 and possession of burglary tools.
Sow’s attorney, on Tuesday, asked the court to appoint Sow an alternate defense counsel in his most recent charges. Judge Inga Causey set a new hearing for both cases for Jan. 14.
On Oct. 20, just after 4 a.m., a witness said Sow used what appeared to be a 9-millimeter handgun to threaten a worker at a convenience store in Avon, asking the employee to give him any money the store might have on hand at the time, according to an arrest affidavit.
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The worker said his response was to tell Sow “there were cameras everywhere,” and that the store did not have any cash on hand.
“The suspect then ran from the store and left in a silver Audi Q5,” according to the affidavit.
Seventeen minutes later, town of Vail officers responded to an alarm at Lamina jewelry store in Vail Village and observed a front display window and a jewelry case inside the store to be broken.
“Vail police officers reviewed Town of Vail surveillance video and observed a silver Audi Q5 drive westbound on Meadow Drive and stop in front of Lamina,” according to the affidavit. “A dark-skinned male party wearing a black ‘puffy’ coat, black pants, black shoes and a white beanie-style hat exits the vehicle.
“The suspect party walks towards the front of Lamina carrying what appears to possibly be a hammer or similar tool,” the report continues. “The suspect is seen swinging his arm towards the window, reaching into the window, then running back towards his vehicle. As the suspect is running, he is seen putting what was later confirmed to be a jewelry display inside his coat. The vehicle then drives westbound on Meadow Drive, turns north onto Vail Road and then travels in an unknown direction from the Main Vail Roundabout.”
A store manager at the jewelry store said 19 pieces of jewelry were stolen, valued at $15,480.
