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In String Of Robberies, Largo Police Free 1, Jail Another

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By CHRIS ECHEGARAY

Published: November 16, 2007

LARGO - Police arrested the wrong man in connection with a string of strong-armed robberies and three days later — on Thursday — found their suspect.

  
Gregory Fernall Holley

Gregory Fernall Holley, 42, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with four counts of strong-arm robbery. Police found Holley riding a bicycle on the Pinellas Trail in the area of Taylor Park. Holley had red dye on him from the bank dye pack exploding, police said.

Police say he robbed a CVS pharmacy at 51 N. Missouri Ave. on Nov. 9, a 7-Eleven at 11777 131st St. on Saturday, a Publix at 857 West Bay Drive on Sunday, and a Fifth Third Bank at 1698 S. Missouri Ave. on Tuesday.

Before Holley's arrest, police had charged another man in connection with the robberies at the Publix and 7-Eleven.

Michael Benjamin, 49, was arrested Monday after witnesses and victims picked him out of a photo-pack.

The day after Benjamin's arrest, the Fifth Third Bank was robbed, and the robber and Benjamin had striking similarities, police said. The bank was robbed at 2:38 p.m., and nearly an hour later, police made arrangements to release Benjamin.

In all the robberies, the man entered the business and told employees he was armed. He demanded money. No weapon was shown, but the robber implied he had one, police said.

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