DENVER – Police have arrested a 32-year-old man who is suspected of tying up a couple in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood, threatening them and robbing them at gunpoint Tuesday morning.
Denver police announced Wednesday afternoon they had arrested Marcus Dechee, 32, in regards to the robbery, which happened in the 1000 block of S. Gilpin Street. They said he was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a separate carjacking that happened in the 1000 block of S. Federal Boulevard.
The victims told Denver7 Tuesday they woke up to find a man, believed to be Dechee, standing in their kitchen with a gun. He was wearing a mask and told the couple, “Yeah, you guys have lots of money in this neighborhood,” victim Janet Schmidt said.
Dechee had entered the home through an unlocked door, the victims and police said. The Schmidts said that Dechee threatened rape and murder as they were tied up during the three-hour ordeal.
Janet Schmidt said that the man brought her out and made her try on underwear for him before locking her and her husband back in their closet. He proceeded to ransack the home and steal the family’s car, TV, laptop and multiple other items. The Schmidts said Dechee repeatedly threatened to shoot them.
They were able to escape once they were sure he had left their home, where they say they have lived for 30 years without issue.
Denver police said Dechee is being held on suspicion of aggravated robbery, aggravated motor vehicle theft and vehicular eluding charges.
Court records show that Dechee also has a burglary case out of Lakewood stemming from a May arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to five counts in that case.
Court records show he made his first court appearance in the Denver case Wednesday.