Gainesville police have arrested a 21-year-old Gainesville man in connection to two armed robberies Thursday at The Retreat at McEver Apartments.

Jonathan Williams Owens was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit armed robbery, and one count each of aggravated assault and armed robbery.

In the first robbery, which occurred around noon, Owens allegedly robbed a vendor who was restocking a vending machine at a building in the complex on McEver Road, said Kevin Holbrook, public information officer for the Gainesville Police Department.

"The victim did have his back turned," Holbrook said. "The subject asked if he had any change. Then once the victim reached into his pocket to grab his wallet, he noticed that the subject was armed with a handgun."

Holbrook said the suspect then demanded the victim give him his wallet. The victim complied and robber left with an undetermined amount of cash.

Following the incident, police called in a canine unit and put Gainesville Exploration Academy on lockdown for a short time due to the close proximity of the incident.

The second robbery occurred around midnight. Owens is suspected of robbing a taxi driver at gunpoint. Holbrook said Owens pulled a gun, demanded money and then left on foot.

Owens is being held in the Hall County Jail without bond.

Last Wednesday, Gainesville police arrested Renardo Shonice Williams in connection to the robbery of a taxi driver at Ridgecrest Apartments in Gainesville.

Holbrook said the two incidents involving taxi drivers are not related.

"Coincidentally, it turned out they're two separate cases but fortunately both resulted in arrests," he said.