Smoke Shop Robbed At Gunpoint, Winter Haven High Student Charged

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A 19-year-old Winter Haven High School student is facing a felony robbery charge after Winter Haven police said he used a firearm to rob a smoke shop.

According to police, on Tuesday at 3:16 p.m., Cervonte Omar Griffin of Lake Silver Drive NE in Winter Haven entered The Smoke Shop at 211 Central Ave. E in Winter Haven. He approached the two owners inside of the store, displlayed a firearm and said, "Put all the stuff in the bag."

One of the victims told Griffin "no" at which time Griffin reached behind the counter, taking multiple boxes of vape cartridges valued at approximately $1,000, said police. Griffin started walking away, but then walked back toward the victims with the firearm in his hand advising the victims to "go back, go back" and he left the store.

Winter Haven Police used images taken from store videos to identify Griffin. A positive identification was made and Thursday, and Griffin was taken into custody.

Griffin was also identified as the robber who grabbed 10 boxes of Elf Vape Pens valued at $600 from the same store on July 10.

Griffin was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with one count of robbery with a firearm for the Sept. 12 incident and one count of petit theft for the July 10 incident.