GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Less than 20 minutes after receiving reports of an armed robbery at the Verizon Wireless at 2612 Northwest 13th Street, Gainesville police had four suspects in custody.
At 10:04 a.m., Verizon staff reported that two men, reportedly armed with handguns, came into the business, escorted the staff to the safe and emptied the safe of electronics.
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Responding officers quickly located a white vehicle believed to be involved. When officers tried to pull the driver over, they stopped the vehicle and ran. One suspect was caught at that scene by Sgt. Lisa Satcher and arrested. Multiple boxed cellphones and other items were found in the car.
A few moments later, Capt. Anthony Ferrara noticed three others that matched the suspect description of the people that ran from the car exiting the wood line near Lowes on Northwest 13th Street. Officers stopped them and they were identified as being involved and arrested.
All four suspects have been positively identified as being involved in the robbery, police said.
They were identified as Javaris Whitsett, 19; Shanelle Vincent, 27; Jessica Rankin, 24; and Stanley Floveus, 15. Police said Floveus and Whitsett were the ones who actually robbed the business, while the women were accomplices with the vehicle.
The adults will be taken to the Alacua County Jail, and Floveus will be taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.
The reported weapons have not yet been located, but ASO K-9 deputies are searching the path the suspects are believed to have traveled.
Police spokesperson Officer Ben Tobias praised the quick teamwork that resulted in the arrest of these individuals.
“It took a mere 20 minutes from report to arrest today in this violent crime,” Tobias said. “Everyone worked together as a team to quickly track and arrest those responsible.”
The investigation is continuing.