Teens Charged After Armed Robbery, Police Chase Through Manatee

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Four teenagers face multiple charges after an armed robbery and police chase through Bradenton and Palmetto Tuesday morning, Bradenton police said in a news release.

Around 6:40 a.m., Bradenton police responded to an armed robbery in the 200 block of 7th Street East in Bradenton.

The victim said he was walking to work when two individuals approached him, pointed a firearm at him and demanded his personal belongings, police said. When the victim resisted, the suspects left in a vehicle.

Detectives identified the vehicle used in the robbery and located it near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge fishing pier, police said. They followed the vehicle into Palmetto, where a Palmetto police tried to pull them over for a traffic stop.

The driver refused to stop and fled south over Green Bridge into Bradenton, police said. The driver crashed into several cars at the intersection of 9th Street and 6th Avenue W, including five police cars.

The driver got out of the vehicle wearing a bulletproof vest, dropped a firearm and ran. He was captured without incident after a short chase by foot, police said. Three others in the vehicle were also taken into custody.

After a search warrant was later served on their vehicle, detectives learned that the teens were involved in other vehicle burglaries before Tuesday’s robbery, police said. Multiple stolen items were found in the car, as well as a second firearm.

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Four teens face multiple charges including:

• A 17-year-old boy charged with armed robbery, armed burglary, two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of a bulletproof vest while committing certain offenses and multiple criminal traffic charges, including fleeing to elude.
• A 15-year-old boy charged with armed robbery and armed burglary.
• Two 13-year-old boys charged with armed robbery and armed burglary.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jay Gow at 941-932-9373. You may also email BPDTips@BradentonPD.com or remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward up to $3,000 by calling Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS (8477).