 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Robbery suspect runs right to police
By DAVID KARP © St. Petersburg Times, published January 27, 2001 TAMPA -- As he fled on foot, James Michael Moon did not know he was heading into the arms of the law. As six people chased him and a woman yelled for help, he dashed into a narrow walkway in downtown Tampa between an office building and a parking garage. He did not know, a witness said, that the walkway led to the Tampa Police Department and, for Moon, a visit to the county jail. As Moon headed down the walkway, he dropped the wallet and practically ran into police Chief Bennie Holder, who by chance was coming out of the police parking garage with Deputy Chief Walter "Buz" Sawyer and another officer. Holder handcuffed Moon and took him into custody without a struggle. Authorities charged Moon, a 19-year-old carpenter from Riverview, with strong-armed robbery. He declined to comment on the comedy of his errors. Moon had not only chosen the wrong place; he had chosen the wrong victim, too. Police said Moon robbed Donna Wilson, the State Attorney's Office's victim advocate, who makes her living helping victims of crimes deal with the criminal justice system. They say he grabbed her wallet out of her hand and pushed her when she resisted. Moon circled the police station once as Wilson and others chased. Edgar Macaroi, 26, said it didn't look like Moon knew where he was going. Moon didn't look up to see the huge sign that said "Tampa Police." After he was caught, he told bystanders he had done nothing wrong.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
|
