Crime & Safety

St. Pete Man Charged in Bank Robbery

The search for Pinellas' serial bank robber, however, continues.

A 27-year-old St. Petersburg man faces robbery charges after Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies say they connected him to an April 2 bank robbery.

Blake James Sharp was arrested Friday morning in regard to a Wells Fargo Bank robbery in South Pasadena. Sharp, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media, is accused of entering the 1101 Pasadena Ave. S. bank on April 2, handing the teller a note, implying he had a weapon and demanding cash.

Deputies have not said how they connected Sharp to the crime, but did say he admitted to the allegations when they met with him Friday.

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Sharp was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on one count of robbery. He bonded out in lieu of $20,000, jail records indicate.

Deputies note that Sharp has not been connected with a string of armed bank robberies that have been occurring all over Pinellas since December. A reward in that case has climbed to $20,000.

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Anyone with information about those robberies is asked to call Det. Gene Paniccia at 727-582-6200.

Booking photo of Blake Sharp courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

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