Homeless man robs downtown teenager

Just before 11:00 p.m. last night, Historic City News learned that St Augustine police patrolman, Christopher Raley, was dispatched to St George Street to locate a man who a passerby said he witnessed robbing a teenager on the street.

When police arrived, two men, 20-year-old Michael Lewis Gardner, who uses the St Francis House homeless shelter as his residence address, and 32-year-old Robert James Taylor III, also of St Augustine, were found in the area, detained, and questioned.

The victim, a juvenile, told police that Gardner and Taylor came up to him on St George Street, demanding, “Where’s my ten dollars”. The victim believed Gardner was armed with a knife; so, he tried to run away. According to the witness statements, Gardner chased the victim. When Gardner caught up to the teen, he grabbed him from behind and placed him in “a choke hold” — then demanded that the boy give him $10.00.

The victim said that Gardner demanded that he empty out his pockets and he complied. The only items in his pockets were a cigarette lighter and an empty gum wrapper. Gardner released the victim and walked away from the scene; headed north on St George Street.

The passerby, who called police to report the incident, signed a sworn statement detailing what had occurred. Taylor, who the victim and witness say was present, denied any part in the robbery and went on to tell Officer Raley that he tried to pull Gardner off the victim during the attack. Taylor refused to sign a sworn statement, according to the report.

Gardner was placed under arrest and charged with robbery; a second-degree felony.

Gardner made his first appearance before a judge today; an appearance bond was set. He remains in custody in the St Johns County Detention Facility this evening in lieu of $10,000 bail.