Police arrest 19 year-old in armed robbery

Community Affairs Officer Barbara Stevens reported to Historic City News that the St. Augustine Police Department was called to the scene of an armed robbery at 114 Cedar Street Wednesday night at about 11:00 p.m.

The victim, a Flagler College Student, told officers that he was leaving his apartment when two black men appeared from behind parked cars and approached him.

One of the men, later identified as 19 year-old Titarious Lyons, brandished a handgun and held it to the victim’s head. The gunman demanded that the victim “get on the ground”, then he took the victim’s wallet, which contained $20.00 in cash. The robbers ran off; leaving the victim uninjured.

Unlike Lyons, the accomplice was wearing a mask and has yet to be been identified.

During a canvas of the area, Officer David Tucker was informed by the clerk at Carmelo’s Market Place that two black men, matching the description of the robbers, had been in the store around the time of the incident.

The clerk identified one of the men from prior experience to be Titarious Lyons. The victim looked at the surveillance video and identified Lyons as the robber who held the gun to his head.

Police located Lyons on West King Street at King Food Mart at about 9:00 a.m. this morning and took him into custody. When Lyons was searched, police discovered that he was in possession of crack cocaine.

Lyons was shown the surveillance video from Carmelo’s Market Place and confirmed that it was him in the store that night. Lyons denies knowing who was with him and denies having anything to do with the Cedar Street robbery.

Police are continuing their investigation and still trying to identify the masked man who was with the gunman Wednesday night.

Anyone with any information concerning this crime or who may know the identity of those involved is asked to contact detectives with the St. Augustine Police Department at (904) 825-1074. You can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward by calling CrimeStoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-(888) 277-TIPS.