Suspect in 11 robberies arrested

David Morley cries that he is innocent, but police say they have fingerprint proof.

By MIKE BRASSFIELD

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 6, 2000

[Times photo: Fred Victorin] A tearful David Morley is taken to the Pinellas County Jail.

ST. PETERSBURG -- As he was taken to jail, David Morley sobbed that he was innocent. Police had the wrong man, he said.

Police think Morley, 35, is a crack addict who robbed nearly a dozen gas stations and other businesses over the extended Fourth of July weekend.

They also say he was careless, and that he got caught because he left fingerprints at crime scenes and registered under his own name at a motel in the area where many of the robberies took place.

Morley, of 4101 41st Ave. N, was charged with three armed robberies and is suspected in eight more, said St. Petersburg police spokesman Dan Bates. Detectives plan to track down more robbery victims and charge Morley in more holdups.

Detectives identified Morley as their suspect Tuesday from fingerprints left at one business, said police Sgt. Al White, head of the robbery squad. Witnesses recognized Morley's photograph. Police found him Wednesday afternoon at the Palm Aire Motel at 3250 34th St. N.

Outside the city's police station, Morley cried to reporters that he hadn't done anything.

"He was high. He was all cracked up," White said.

Police say no one was hurt in the robberies. They say the robber usually implied he had a gun, but showed a handgun in the most recent robbery Wednesday morning.

Morley is charged with three robberies: Friday at 7-Eleven, 3000 49th St. N; Tuesday at Amoco, 3001 49th St. N; and Wednesday morning at L&W Food Mart, 59 Fifth Ave. N.

Police are investigating four similar robberies from Sunday at BP Gas, 3737 49th St. N; Exxon stations at 3061 First Ave. N and 825 49th St. N; and Gulfport Mini Mart, 1615 58th St. S.

They also are investigating Monday robberies at Blockbuster Video, 1300 34th St. N, and Save a Penny, 2735 Fifth Ave. N; and Tuesday robberies at Hess Express, 3225 34th St. N, and the Bayway Inn, 4400 34th St. S.

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