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Victim Snatches Gun From Robber, Tampa Police Say

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 30, 2008

Jerome Haggins

TAMPA - When robbing six men at gunpoint, it's not a good idea to put the pistol down on a table to remove a bracelet from a victim.

The predictable result is a former victim holding the gun and calling police.

That's pretty much what the Tampa Police Department says happened about 11 a.m. Saturday when Jerome Haggins walked into a residence at 1801 1/2 N. Nebraska Ave.

Haggins pointed the pistol at the six men inside the residence, ordered them to the floor, then told the victims to hand over their wallets and jewelry and take their clothes off, police said.

A piece of jewelry proved to be the undoing of any robbery plans Haggins harbored, police said.

Detectives said Haggins threatened to kill a man who didn't hand over a bracelet. Haggins put the gun on a table and snatched the bracelet, police said.

A victim quickly grabbed the gun and held Haggins until officers arrived, police said. The pistol turned out to be stolen, police reported.

Haggins, 42, 2802 E. Lake Ave, Tampa, was charged with six counts of armed robbery, a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm, police said. He also is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm for each round of ammunition he had.

He is in the Orient Road Jail with no bond.

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