Newport News Police arrested a Suffolk man

wanted on assault charges, who may have some involvement in area bank robberies.

Khadduri Brown, of the 900 block of Battery Avenue, is being held in the Newport News city jail with no bond, said Lt. Debbie George, spokeswoman for the Suffolk Police Department. He was arrested Wednesday night. Additional charges are pending in Newport News, she added.

In Suffolk, Brown faces charges of aggravated assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Now, police have identified him as a person of interest with regard to three recent robberies in Suffolk and Franklin.

On Wednesday, police found a blue Pontiac on Hall Street in Suffolk, which had been stolen during an earlier carjacking in Portsmouth. Police report that Brown was seen operating the car, which was owned by a Norfolk resident.

On April 26, the Farmers Bank on Godwin Boulevard/Route 10 in Suffolk was robbed, and just one month later, the Bank of America downtown was hit. In Franklin, authorities are investigating a recent robbery at SunTrust Bank.

Brown’s mother, Patricia Brown, expressed anger Thursday that her son is a target in the investigations. She called the link to the recent robberies a case of

&uot;mistaken identity.&uot; She said the family had hoped to hire an attorney for Brown prior to his capture, while noting that she had no knowledge of his whereabouts.

&uot;He’s being accused of these crimes and yet they’ve already found him guilty,&uot; said Patricia. &uot;He’s being falsely accused.&uot;

Brown said she was relieved to learn that her son was no longer on the streets.

&uot;I’ve been wondering if my son was dead. I knew he has no money and he was probably hungry,&uot; said Brown.

&uot;Now we can help him.&uot;

luefras.robinson@suffolknewsherald.com