Five runaways arrested in strong-arm robbery

A 39-year-old female cab driver reported Wednesday that she was dispatched to a restaurant in the 4600 block of Lenoir Avenue in Jacksonville to transport five passengers to the St Augustine Outlet Mall.

She arrived to find five teenage boys, who agreed to pay the $65 fare in advance. The Checker Yellow Cab reached its destination around 10:30 p.m.

According to the report reviewed by Historic City News today, four of the passengers got out of the cab, leaving one directly behind the driver. The driver told St Johns County Sheriff’s deputies that the remaining teen demanded money from her. The driver says that she turned over about $100 in cash.

The five teens fled on foot together and the victim called the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived and searched the area. After a short time, the teens were located near a convenience store on the east side of I-95.

Identified as participating in this crime were:

• Devon Alexander Page, 15, St. Augustine, charged with Robbery by sudden snatching.

• Cainan James Thomas, 15, Jacksonville, charged with accessory after the fact of robbery by sudden snatching and providing false information (name) to law enforcement.

• Zachary Thomas Hawkins, 15, St. Augustine, charged with accessory after the fact of robbery by sudden snatching.

• Jayden Everette Casey, 14, Jacksonville, charged with accessory after the fact of robbery by sudden snatching.

• Eddie Fred Griffin, 14, Middleburg, charged with accessory after the fact of robbery by sudden snatching.

The juveniles were apprehended without further incident and positively identified by the victim. They were arrested, booked into the St Johns County Detention Facility and turned over to officers from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. All five were runaways from the Youth Crisis Center in Jacksonville.