Police in Providence, R.I., have charged two suspects—caught last month in Stafford County—with a string of armed robberies of city restaurants this winter.

Frank Blount, 34, whose last known addresses were Providence and Stafford, and Robert Price, 40, whose last known address was Providence, also are charged with armed robbery in Virginia, police said.

The two are being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford on charges of armed robbery, police said.

On Feb. 22, a Stafford sheriff’s deputy encountered a holdup in progress at a North Stafford convenience store. First Sgt. C.S. Kimmitz tackled Price after a dramatic chase, in which his cruiser was rammed, that began outside the East Coast gas station at 488 Garrisonville Road.

The subsequent investigation led to Blount’s later arrest when when he showed up at a home in the England Run area that deputies had under surveillance.

Stafford detectives also charged Price and Blount with a Jan. 16 armed robbery at the same East Coast station, Sheriff Charles Jett said. In both robberies, the suspects stole a car and used it in the crime, then returned to their own vehicle and abandoned the stolen car.

In Providence, the pair were charged in connection with the armed robberies of Chili’s Restaurant, Collier Street, on Dec. 12, 2002; the Pizza Pieer Restaurant, Wickenden Street, on Dec. 15, 2002; India Restaurant, Hope Street, on Jan. 2; Pizzico Restaurant, Hope Street, on Jan. 7 and Tokyo Restaurant, Wickenden Street, on Jan. 13.

There had been so many robberies at restaurants in a relatively affluent section of Providence in recent months that many residents there had expressed fear about eating out, sources said.

At a press conference yesterday, Providence police said each man has been charged with five counts of first-degree robbery, a felony.

Sgt. Paul Campbell, a Providence police detective, and Detective John Coughlin—working with officials in Stafford County—said they were able to uncover “an intricate scheme of armed robberies,” in both jurisdictions.

Because both Blount and Price had ties to Virginia, the Providence police contacted law-enforcement officials in that state after the pair left Rhode Island.

It is unknown when Blount and Price will return to Rhode Island to face the charges.

Authorities are still looking for a third suspect in the case.

Staff writer Keith Epps contributed to this report.