Page 33 - Florida Sentinel 1-3-20

Crime
Three Arrested For Burglary Of High School
Armed Suspect Takes
Man Charged With String Of Armed Robberies
SAMUEL JEROME SMITH
A 26-year-old Tampa man was arrested Monday and charged with armed robbery. He reportedly con- fessed to committing the crimes after he was arrested.
According to police, detectives were investigating a string of armed robberies that took place between December 22nd and De- cember 28th. In each robbery, the suspect entered the business armed with a black semi-auto- matic handgun and demanded money.
The robberies took place De- cember 22nd, Circle K, 6501 W. Hillsborough Avenue; December 24th, 7-Eleven, 824 W. Waters Av- enue; December 28th, 7-Eleven, 2928 E. Fowler Avenue; and De- cember 30th, Marathon, 4301 W. Hillsborough Avenue.
Officers were aware of the string of robberies and had in- creased their presence in the areas of convenience stores and gas sta- tions. On December 30th, officers were watching a light colored Chevrolet Malibu in the area of 15th Street and E. Fowler Avenue. The vehicle was registered to Samuel Jerome Smith. Police said Smith also matched the descrip- tion of the robbery suspect.
Smith reportedly exited his vehicle and approached the Circle K at that location. However, the door was locked and Smith re- turned to his vehicle.
The officers continued surveil- lance of Smith as he went to a 7- Eleven at 56th Street and Puritan Road. At that location, there were several people inside the store and he returned to his vehicle and drove away.
His next stop was at the Marathon Gas Station, 4301 W. Hillsborough Avenue. He went into the business, robbed the em- ployees at gunpoint, and fled the scene.
He was arrested a short time later on Belle Chase Circle and charged with four counts of armed robbery. Smith reportedly admit- ted to committing the crimes.
More Than $100,000 In
Jewelry Store Robbery
Detectives are asking the public to help identify a man who robbed a jewelry store at gunpoint. The robbery took place Tuesday morning.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the man entered Zales Jewelry Store at University Mall, shortly after 10 a.m. He pointed the firearm at the two employees in the busi- ness.
He forced one employee on the floor and demanded that the other assist him in filling the backpack with jewelry. The sus- pect fled the scene with 69 men’s rings valued at more than $100,000, police said.
He is described as a white man, between the ages of 20 and 25 years of age, between 5’5” and 5’8” with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a white hoodie, and carrying a black
JEWELRY STORE ROBBERY
backpack.
Anyone who recognizes the
suspect is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200. Callers can also contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS or online at www.crimestopper- stb.com.
ALEXANDER DUCOT
DANIEL MYERS
TYRUS CATES
Three teenagers were taken into custody recently on bur- glary charges. They are accused of breaking into a high school.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the three men broke into Blooming- dale High School, 1700 Bloom- ingdale Avenue, and attempted to take several items.
Police arrived at the school in reference to an intrusion alarm activation shortly before 3 a.m., on December 31st. The deputies discovered a fire extin- guisher missing from one of the classrooms and later found bro- ken glass.
The deputies continued searching the area and found three teenagers inside the office of the school. They all fled the scene.
There were several desk drawers found open, nearly two dozen keys to various locks at the school scattered across the floor and hallway.
The three who fled were later identified as Alexander Ducot, 19; Daniel Myers, 19; and 18-year-old Tyrus Cates were caught outside the school building.
Detectives believe the three may be the same suspects who are responsible for an incident that took place on December 28th.
Ducot was charged with: 3 counts of grand theft of a fire ex- tinguisher, grand theft, 3 counts of rendering a fire extinguisher inoperable, resisting an officer without violence, burglary with more than $1,000 in damage, theft of a credit card, trespassing upon school grounds, and bur- glary of an unoccupied struc- ture.
Myers was charged with: grand theft of a fire extin- guisher, grand theft, rendering a fire extinguisher inoperable, re- sisting an officer without vio- lence, burglary with more than $1,000 in damage, and trespass- ing upon school grounds.
Cates was charged with: grand theft of a fire extin- guisher, grand theft, rendering a fire extinguisher inoperable, re- sisting an officer without vio- lence, burglary with more than $1,000 in damage, and trespass- ing upon school grounds. There was also an active warrant for his arrest, police said.
UNCLE SANDY
Failure is success in progress. 4, 27, 39, 43, 56.
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