ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Detectives with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office are investigating a series of armed robberies to food delivery or taxi drivers that have occurred over the past year in the West Augustine area.
The most recent robberies happened last month and have increased in severity as the robbers began brandishing guns, deputies said.
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Many of the robberies were in the area of King Street Extension, and several people have been identified as persons of interest, deputies said.
One of them, 15-year-old Brandon Rich, was recently arrested and charged with one of the armed robberies, deputies said. He was turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice and is in custody.
Deputies said the criminal activity of the young suspects has adversely affected the community, as some of the businesses have temporarily suspended deliveries to the West Augustine area.
As a result of the investigation, three firearms have been seized from two homes, along with packaged narcotics for sale from another home, deputies said.
Cameron Glass, 18, is charged with possession of a firearm, and a 13-year-old boy was arrested on two counts each of burglary and grand theft.
Two additional taxi cab robberies have been committed in the past several days, deputies said.
In an effort to end this dangerous criminal activity, detectives are encouraging the community to come forward with any information that will assist the investigation and identify potential suspects.
Anyone with any information can call the Sheriff's Office at 904-810-6645 or Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS (8477).
Investigators said they would be out in force Thursday afternoon in West Augustine to canvass the area, distribute Crime Stoppers door hangers and to seek out information about the robbers.