Melbourne Police Arrest Two Armed Robbery Suspects After Two-Day Crime Spree
By Space Coast Daily // December 24, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Melbourne police arrested two Miami men and charged them with a spree of armed robberies.
James Leroy Taylor, 19, and Robert Lee Jackson, 20 both from Miami, were arrested and are currently being held in the Brevard County Jail on a no bond status.
According to Melbourne Police Department Commander Dan Lynch, the incident began when the Melbourne Police responded to Florida Avenue and Babcock Street on Dec. 17 to a strong arm robbery.
“Two black males approached the victim who was walking west on Florida Avenue from the Walmart grocery store while she was carrying a gallon of milk and her purse,” said Commander Lynch.
“The males grabbed the milk and her purse from her and ran to an awaiting car, described as a white 4-door small vehicle and sped away. She described the black males wearing hooded sweatshirts, with the hoods tight up on their heads.”
About an hour and a half later, at about 10 p.m., the two suspects approached a man in an apartment’s complex parking lot. One suspect was holding a firearm to the victim’s chest and demanded his money, according to Commander Lynch.
“The victim said he had nothing on him,” said Commander Lynch. “The male with the firearm repeatedly poked the victim in his chest with the firearm. The victim described the firearm as having a long barrel and was black.”
Another black male, wearing a dark colored hoodie, began to pat the victim’s pockets and said he had nothing. The black males were wearing hooded sweatshirts with the hoods pulled tight up on their heads and then ran out of the apartment parking lot, according to Commander Lynch.
The next day, on Dec. 18 at 4:21 p.m., the Melbourne police received another report of an Armed Robbery.
“Two male victims were walking from their parked cars on Vernon Place,” said Commander Lynch.
“They walked in an alleyway behind the Burger Place and were robbed by two black males, with one holding a firearm.”
According to police, the suspects were wearing hooded sweatshirts, with the hoods tied close up on their heads, demanded money and searched the victims.
“The black male holding the firearm was described wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the words “CREW” printed on the back of the sweatshirt,” said Commander Lynch.
“The firearm was described as being a small caliber Ruger Mark II or Mark III.”
The other suspect was described as wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and took an Iphone 5C with a life proof cover with blue back and a wallet from the victim. The suspect with the firearm took the wallet from victim.
A witness saw the two suspects run from the alleyway and enter a four-door white car described as a Toyota with rounded rear tail lights.
“At approximately 7:30 p.m., Melbourne Police Officer D’Errico observed a white four-door Toyota Corolla that had rounded rear tail lights, at the Speedway gas station, located at 3500 South Babcock Street in Melbourne,” said Commander Lynch.
“Officer D’Errico ran an FCIC computer check of the vehicle tag, in which it confirmed stolen status out of Miami, Florida. Officer D’Errico attempted a traffic stop on this vehicle, which fled from him. A vehicle pursuit ensued which ended at 3000 Monroe Street in Melbourne when all four males fled on foot from the vehicle.
“After a brief foot chase with Melbourne Officers, the black males were detained. Two black males fit the description provided by the victims. One was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the word “CREW” on the back and was identified as James Taylor.
“The other was wearing a gray colored hooded sweatshirt. A firearm was recovered within 20 feet from where the black male with the gray hooded sweatshirt was detained. This firearm was identified as a 22 caliber Ruger Mark III. This male was identified as Robert Jackson.”
According to police, a search revealed an Iphone 5c with a life proof cover and blue back in Jackson’s left front pocket.
The stolen vehicle was towed to the Melbourne Police Department Criminal Investigations Office and stored in a secure lot. A search of the vehicle revealed evidence from three different victims of robbery.
Items found included voters registration card, receipts, a grocery receipt from the FIT grocery store, and a broken gold colored rosary which was taken from a victim in a related robbery from Palm Bay.
If you have any information about this incident call the Melbourne Police Department at 321-608-6731 or call CRIMELINE at 1- 800-423-TIPS (8477).
You can also visit crimeline.org, or text ‘crimeline’ plus your tip to CRIME (274637). All information to CRIMELINE is confidential and you may be eligible for a reward.
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