Only one of the three armed

men who assaulted a north Fayette couple during a home invasion last week

bothered to disguise himself with a ski mask.

That was a sign that one of

the suspects knew the couple, and ultimately it led to the arrest of Resaul

Malik Rayshad, 33, of Rex according to Lt. Col. Bruce Jordan of the Fayette

County Sheriff's Department.

"He had been introduced

to them by a third party," Jordan said, adding that detectives consider

Rayshad the "mastermind" of the caper.

Rayshad, who changed his name

from Brian Randolf after converting to the Muslim faith, was arrested

Jan. 27 less than 24 hours after the incident, Jordan said. A second suspect,

Jessie James Mercer, 29, was arrested Friday by the Southeast Regional

Fugitive Task Force and warrants are out for a third suspect, George Roberts

Jr., 30, of Decatur.

Rayshad and Mercer are charged

with armed robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault, all felonies.

The three suspects got away

with cash and other items belonging to the victims including a .44 magnum

handgun, Jordan said.

Each one of the suspects was

armed with a gun when they burst into the couple's home in the Kenwood

Road area, Jordan said. The invasion became violent at times, Jordan noted,

but no major injuries were reported.

"They were roughed up,"

Jordan said, adding that the victims suffered from bruises and abrasions.

Records indicate the woman

was pulled around the house by her hair and forced to shut off the home's

burglar alarm.

The couple was tied up before

the trio got away, but the husband was able to work himself loose so he

could call 911, Jordan added.

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