ST. PETERSBURG — Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a robbery at a CVS Pharmacy, 301 Third St. S., where store clerks were pepper-sprayed late Monday night, Jan. 5.
According to St. Petersburg police, the robbery occurred around 11:45 p.m. when two individuals wearing face masks entered the store. Investigators said Antone Jones, 26, went behind the store counter and shoved a salesclerk while his accomplice, Joseph Lee-Brown, 27, sprayed store employees in the face with pepper spray. A second clerk who attempted to intervene was also sprayed.
The suspects fled the store with more than $1,000 in merchandise.
Police said Jones and Lee-Brown were described at the time as possibly in their 20s, with long black braids and wearing blue surgical masks. One suspect wore a long-sleeved gray sweatshirt, black joggers with white stripes, and tan Ugg-style boots. The other wore a long-sleeved white top with small red hearts, black joggers, and sandals.
Lee-Brown was arrested Jan. 6 in Hillsborough County and charged with armed robbery. Jones was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and also charged with armed robbery.
Investigators said the robbery was the third reported in the City of St. Petersburg since Dec. 1 and may be part of a series of similar store robberies in the region.