Bartow Police Seek Man Suspected In 2 Armed Robberies

BARTOW, FL – Bartow Police detectives are seeking the community's help to arrest a man reportedly involved in two armed robberies.

On Aug. 3, detectives with the Bartow Police Department began investigating the armed robbery of the ATA Stereo Sound shop at 1256 North Broadway Ave.

According to the store owner, Yahia Suwail, two men entered the store armed with handguns and demanded money. Suwail complied and handed over money to the robbers who fled the store.

Detectives obtained video surveillance from the store and began investigating this incident.

On Aug. 9, police received a report of an armed robbery and shooting in the area of the Azalea Gardens complex,1050 S. Golfview Ave. Officers made contact with the victims, foreign exchange students Juan Neira and Estefania Daza (see related story) who reported having been assaulted and robbed that evening.

Neira said he’d been communicating with someone on social media the day before to purchase an iPhone. They agreed to meet on West Tee Circle in Azalea Gardens to complete the transaction.

Upon arrival, the students were approached by a man who motioned for them to come his way. As the students walked to the rear of building, they were confronted by a another man who was armed with a semi-automatic handgun. He pointed the gun at them and demanded their money. He then pistol-whipped both Neira and Daza on their heads with the gun and one of the men stole Daza's wallet. As the two robbers ran away, the students gave chase but stopped when one of the men fired at them.

During their investigation, detectives identified Jonathan Lamont Vaughn, 21, and Genard Demari Smith Jr., 19, both of Golfview Avenue, Bartow, as suspects and obtained arrest warrants.

Smith was arrested Aug. 17 in the Azalea Gardens complex. Through subsequent interviews and investigation, detectives learned that Vaughn had also been involved in the prior stereo shop robbery.

Detectives identified Erik Futch, 23, of Tealwood Avenue, Brandon, as the second man involved in the robbery. Futch was located in Brandon and arrested with the assistance of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives also learned that Vaughn and Futch were assisted in the robbery by Futch's girlfriend, Keirra Lampley, 23, of Foxridge Run, Winter Haven, who was subsequently arrested for having acted as a lookoutduring the robbery of ATA stereo.

Vaughn remains wanted on charges of armed robbery in the ATA robbery, as well as having an active arrest warrant for armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm in public and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the Azalea Gardens incident.

Anyone who has information on Vaughn is asked to contact the Bartow Police Department at (863) 534-5034 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.

Image via Bartow Police

Vaughn

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