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4 detained by police after St. Pete Subway robbery, chase

News Channel 8 photo

Authorities wait outside a home, where they detained three people after a pursuit.

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2009

Updated: 05/20/2009 07:57 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - Four men were detained following the robbery of a Subway sandwich shop and police pursuit this morning.
St. Petersburg police detectives say it's possible some of the individuals detained were involved in the armed robbery, but no one has been charged with the robbery yet.

The Subway, at 4193 34th St. S., was robbed at 10:09 a.m., Proffitt said. Two men wearing dark-colored hoodie jackets, one armed with a handgun, robbed the store and fled in a blueish green Toyota 4Runner that had been stolen, Proffitt said.

At 10:14 a.m., a police officer spotted the SUV at 22nd Avenue South and 35th Street, and a pursuit was authorized, Proffitt said. Officers lost the vehicle at First Avenue South and 34th Street, Proffitt said.

Deputies in a Pinellas sheriff's helicopter later spotted a gray Isuzu Rodeo and notified St. Petersburg police officers, Proffitt said. St. Petersburg officers tried to stop that SUV at 15th Avenue South and 31st Street, but it stopped and four occupants fled.

One was apprehended a few blocks away. The helicopter crew observed another run into a house at 3811 15th Ave. S. Officers talked to occupants of that house and eventually detained three people and a 15-year-old inside the home, Proffitt said.

Officers recovered the Toyota at 3841 16th Ave. S., a few blocks from where they stopped the Isuzu Rodeo.

Two of the suspects admitted they were in a stolen vehicle, police said, and told investigators that when they saw the police cruisers and heard the helicopter overhead, they assumed the police were after them for the auto theft, so they stopped the Isuzu and ran.

Two of the individuals have been charged with auto theft, and the other two were charged with outstanding warrants for their arrest, police said. The 15 year old was released.

Charged with auto theft were Darius Deshawn Johnson and Dwight Tisdale, both 17.

Gabriel D. Dilworth Jr., 18, was charged on a warrant for armed robbery. Ellis Flournoy, 17, was charged with a warrant for failure to appear and violation of probation.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336

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