Five men in Winter Haven, Florida, have been arrested and charged with felony robbery following an incident where they allegedly held up a man walking home from work and stole a vape pen valued at approximately $30. The Winter Haven Police Department reported the incident occurred Sunday around 9:36 p.m.
According to investigators, a pickup truck stopped next to the victim, and five men exited, demanding all items in his pockets. The victim stated he only had a cellphone and a vape pen. Police reported that one of the suspects displayed a gun in his waistband before the group took the vape pen. The victim refused to hand over his cellphone, claiming it had a tracker.
The suspects then left in the pickup truck. Officers later located the vehicle outside a residence. Several men matching the suspects' descriptions were observed. Upon seeing the police, the men fled into the residence and initially refused to exit. Authorities eventually detained them after they emerged from the home.
During the investigation, police interviewed a 17-year-old girl who was a passenger in the truck. She told investigators she did not witness the robbery itself but heard shouting. She later saw one of the men return to the vehicle with a green vape pen, reportedly saying he had obtained it.
Arrested and charged with robbery with a weapon and petit theft are Damarius Jamel Taylor, 18; Tayshawn Williams, 18; Javon Prince Jackson-Roby, 19; Martice Spears Jr., 19; and Deshawn Antwon Lampkin, 19. Taylor also faces charges on an outstanding warrant from Highlands County.
Two 17-year-old girls were also charged with resisting arrest without violence. One allegedly provided a false birth date to officers, while the other reportedly refused to allow officers access to the residence when the suspects fled inside.