Update: Tip Led to Arrest in Realtor Attack Cases

The St. Petersburg Police Department has announced an arrest in the attacks on two real estate agents last week.

Police say a tip led to the arrest of Paul Jay Pinkston, 58, of St. Petersburg. Investigators picked up Pinkston Monday around 6:15 p.m. at his 10200 Gandy Blvd. apartment, an email to media from the agency stated.

The tipster told police Pinkston looked like the suspect in the video released last week in relation to the cases. He has been charged with one count of kidnapping with a deadly weapon and one count of armed robbery, an email to media from the agency stated.

The attacks in question began just before 1 p.m. Wednesday in the 1700 block of Oxford Street North as a female real estate agent was showing a home to a man. The man pulled out a gun and proceeded to secure the agent’s hands and feet with zip ties.

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The man, police said, then placed a ransom call to the woman’s husband. After the call was placed, the man left the home and the woman was able to loosen her feet and escape to a nearby home.

The second attack happened just before 2 p.m. as another real estate agent was showing a home to a man at 5800 12th. St. N. In that case, the man pulled out a gun and robbed the woman.

Neither woman was injured during the attacks, police department spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez said. Police have notified the local realtors’ association of the attacks.

Pinkston had not yet been booked into the Pinellas County Jail Monday evening.

Photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Police Department