ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Four armed robbery suspects wanted in connection with two convenience store robberies have been arrested.
Clay County deputies said Johntrell Calloway, 19, Shuban Alberto, 18, Evans Perez, 19, and a juvenile were arrested this week in Putnam County.
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Putnam County deputies said Alberto was arrested in connection with a burglary at a Bi-Lo convenience store on U.S. Highway 17 South in Satsuma, and the others were later arrested in connection with the May 24 robbery of the Horse Landing Kangaroo store in Satsuma.
The first robbery in Clay County occurred at the Hibernia Kangaroo store on U.S. Highway 17 in Orange Park about 4 a.m. May 9. According to a police report, the clerk was outside on the phone when the robbery suspects pointed a gun at his head and forced him inside.
"They demanded the man at gunpoint to go behind the counter area, open up the tills," said Clay County Capt. Joe Bucci. "(They) also had him lay on the ground while they committed the robbery."
Because the clerk never hung up the phone, the clerk to whom he was talking at another Kangaroo store heard what was happening and called 911, deputies said. Deputy cruisers arrived within one minute and the robbery suspects sped off, deputies said.
Deputies believe the same three robbery suspects struck again about 1 a.m. May 18. A clerk at a Hess station on State Road 16 in Green Cove Springs was forced to open the register, deputies said. The store manager said the men got away with $200 and 10 packs of cigarettes.
Green Cove Springs Police Detective James Acres said the robbery suspects did something unexpected.
"When they had emptied out the cash register, they initially were using her purse to put cash and some of the items in, and she asked them not to take her purse," Acres said. "They emptied it back out and didn't take her purse, which did seem a little strange."
The men were wearing dark clothing, red bandanas and masks.
Deputies said additional charges may be pending against the suspects.