Two teenagers, a boy, and a girl were arrested by Tampa police after being linked to a series of crimes across the city on Wednesday, January 25, officials said.
The teenagers’ crime spree started on Wednesday morning, at around 11 am when officers received a 911 call about a robbery inside a restaurant. A woman eating her lunch at the Portillo’s Restaurant told the 911 dispatcher that a woman came into the restaurant, grabbed her purse, and fled.
She told responding police officers that she tried to chase the thief down, but her attempts were futile. Officers searched for the suspect but could not find a woman matching the description of the thief.
Police got another 911 call about an hour later about another robbery in a nearby restaurant chain. This time, the victim was an 82-year-old woman who told police that a woman, who matched the same description as the earlier suspect, and a man walked into a McDonald’s where she was eating.
The 82-year-old told police that the duo snatched her car keys and purse and ran out of the restaurant. They then stole her 2022 Toyota Corolla.
It was not long before the department got another 911 call about a hit-and-run at a nearby intersection. The stolen Corolla struck a pedestrian at Waters Avenue and 20th Street intersection. According to the Tampa Police Department, the hit-and-run left the pedestrian with serious injuries.
Authorities discovered the Toyota a short while later. The teens had wrecked the vehicle and left it at the intersection of East Yukon Street and Ruth Place.
The discovery of the wrecked car was the last straw for the officers. They set up a perimeter in the wreckage area and called for help from K-9, Air Service Units, and patrol officers.
After a few minutes of checking the area, the air service unit saw both suspects fleeing on foot back to the McDonald’s.
Officers quickly cornered them and took them into custody.
According to the police, the male, Xavier Walker, who they later discovered was only 16 years old, discarded a firearm under one of the tables in the McDonald’s before police arrested him. The weapon was a 9mm gun.
Officers also found marijuana on both him and the female suspect, later identified as 15-year-old Ashanti Miley.
The boy is facing several charges, including grand theft auto, burglary, marijuana possession, carrying a concealed gun, and being a minor in possession of a gun.
Authorities charged the girl with burglary, petit theft, marijuana possession, and grand theft auto. Authorities discovered that Miley has four other outstanding warrants for her arrest for failing to appear in court. The outstanding warrants were for battery on a police officer, petit theft, and having a stolen credit card.
Interim Police Chief Lee Bercaw condemned their actions, saying it was unfortunate to see teenagers make such poor choices. He also thanked the various teams for their efforts in capturing the duo.
