Staples robbery suspects arrested

St. Johns County local news reporters learned that two St. Augustine men were arrested on robbery charges and booked into the County Detention Facility at 1:14 this morning.

The two suspects were identified to Historic City News by Media Relations Officer Kevin Kelshaw as 20 year-old Stephen Anthony Crooms III, who resides at 936 Ervin Street in St. Augustine and 18 year-old Justin Tyron Montgomery, who resides at 2105 W. Lymington Way, also in St. Augustine.

Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Robbery Homicide Unit located the suspects on West King Street last night and they were brought in for questioning.

The investigation began at 8:35 p.m. Monday when deputies responded to a report of a robbery at Staples in a shopping center on US-1 South.

The 28 year-old victim who works at Staples, told deputies that during his shift, Crooms approached him in the rear of the store. Crooms handed the victim a note demanding money and indicating that he had a weapon, according to the victim’s statement.

At the time, Montgomery stood inside the entry area of the store and acted as a lookout, Kelshaw reported.

Crooms is said to have ushered the victim into the room where the safe is located. The victim says that he gave Crooms six bank bags containing an assortment of rolled coins and bills.

The suspect ran out of a rear door; causing the alarm to sound.

The victim recognized Crooms as a former Staples employee and told deputies at the scene that Crooms was wearing a hat with fake dreadlocks as well as a “Tennessee” shirt, backwards.

Deputies checked on various residences that the suspect was known to frequent and located the pair on West King Street shortly after midnight.

Under questioning by Sheriff’s deputies, the two suspects admitted the robbery and furnished the location of the money alleged to be stolen. The money was later recovered and returned to the store. The two suspects were booked into the County Detention Facility where they remain until they are each able to post $50,000.00 bond.