Four suspects, two men and two woman, are now in police custody, charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery at the Prime Outlet Mall on I-Drive on Tuesday night. A fifth suspect is still being interviewed, as police say, that person might be connected to another crime.
Jacob J. Charles, 21 years, Orlando; Jeffery Jean Baptiste, 19 years, Windermere; Shondell L. Rhodan, 25, of Winter Haven; and Kerenn Fleurantin, 19, of Winter Haven were arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail. Charles and Baptiste face several charges, including robbery with a firearm and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Rhodan and Fleurantin have also been charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and conspiracy to commit grand theft, among other charges.
Police learned from video surveillance that Charles and Jean Baptiste went into an unlocked BMW in the parking lot at the Prime Outlet Mall at 4951 International Drive, and stole a GPS unit, an I-pod music player and a semi-automatic firearm, before holding up two victims at gunpoint, robbing them of their merchandise.
The victims, who were walking out of Victoria Secret at the Mall around 10:30 pm, told police they were approached by at least four black males, with one of them pointing a gun and robbing them. The suspects then fled in a gold Toyota Camry, police learned.
Police say, as detectives headed to the Prime Outlet Mall following the 911 armed robbery call, a vehicle similar to what the suspects described was seen traveling north on Kirkman Road. Investigators followed the suspects’ vehicle for about three minutes before conducting a felony stop at Loquat Tree Road and Greenbelt Boulevard.
Police detained the five occupants in the vehicle. Charles was subsequently identified by the victims, as one of the men who had robbed them at gunpoint.
The items stolen from the victims, including a cell phone, an Omega watch, jeans, purses, shirts and Capri shorts were all recovered from the suspects.
The semi-automatic firearm stolen from the BMW before the armed robbery, was also recovered. Police say, it was the same weapon used in the armed robbery.
During interviews, Rhodan and Fleurantin told police, Charles, Jean Baptiste and a third unnamed individual, exited the Toyota Camry, after burglarizing the BMW, and robbed the victims at gunpoint.
Rhodan was the driver of the gold Toyota Camry when the car was stopped by police.
Charles, Jean Baptiste, Rhodan, and Fleurantin were booked into the Orange County Jail early Wednesday morning.
