CASSOPOLIS — Two men arrested in Cass County over the weekend were arraigned Monday afternoon in Cass County’s 4th Circuit Court.

Ronnie Flowers, 32, of Vandalia, was arraigned on charges of armed robbery. The charges carry a potential of life in prison. 

The charges stem from an incident that occurred Friday. Officers with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Dollar General, 18043 E. State St. in Vandalia, at 6:30 p.m. Friday on reports of the robbery. They learned that a male, later identified to be Flowers, entered the store, led an employee to believe he had a weapon, and requested money.

After the employee gave Flowers the money, he left the store, entered an occupied car and requested a ride, which he was denied. Flowers left Dollar General’s premises on foot.

Cass County Sheriff K-9 Faust was deployed to track Flowers, who was located a short time later at an address on Mulberry Street in Vandalia.

Due to lack of community ties and previous convictions, Judge Stacey Rentfrow set bond at $100,000.

“The court is concerned about public safety,” Rentfrow said.

Also in court Monday, Richard Tindall, 32, of Buchanan, was arraigned on charges of home invasion, and breaking and entering.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred at 10:15 p.m. Sunday evening, when officers with the Dowagiac Police Department were dispatched to Eagle Wood and Trace Apartments in the 29000 block of Amerihost Drive to respond to a subject forcing his way into a residence.

A caller advised central dispatch that an unknown man had kicked in the front door of the residence and entered into the apartment. The apartment was occupied by a husband and wife as well as three small children, officials said.

The husband was awakened by his wife and confronted the suspect, Tindall, in the living room of the apartment, advising him that he was armed with a handgun. Tindall retreated from the residence when confronted by the resident, according to officers.

A responding officer apprehended Tindall outside the residence near an adjacent building. He was found to be in possession of a knife at the time of this incident, according to police.

Tindall told police he had been outside in his vehicle and thought that he saw a female subject hanging from the balcony of the apartment. He also told police he broke into the apartment to check on the female by kicking in the front door. Investigation showed that there was never a female on or hanging from the balcony, according to the department.

Police said no one was injured during the incident.

In court Monday, Rentfrow set bond at $30,000.