(April 6, 2015)- Just before 4:00 AM Sunday morning, Cape Coral Police responded to the 1600 block of NW 1 Ave. on an armed robbery.
At around 3:30 AM the victims were driving home when they noticed a car that appeared to be following them as they neared their residence. They pulled into their driveway and stopped. The driver noticed that the other vehicle stopped behind them, and the occupants exited and were approaching his door. Two suspects pulled open the driver's door and yelled at the driver to get out. One suspect was pointing a gun at his head. The driver complied, but as he exited the car he told his passenger to cal 9-11 and closed his door.
The driver was ordered to his knees. Both suspects demanded all of his money and cellphone and threatened to shoot the driver. He stated that he complied, but told the suspect he did not have any money. He stated that the male suspect handed the gun to the female suspect and she struck him in the face with it. He stated that she also threatened to kill the driver and his passenger. The driver suffered a significant injury to the left side of his face and nose. The driver told Officers that the suspects could hear the 911 operator speaking to his passenger and the male suspect ran around to the passenger side of the car. The driver stated that he heard and could see the passenger window shatter, and then he heard the suspects yelling, “Let’s go!” He was able to provide descriptions of the two suspects that approached his side of the car and a description of the suspect’s vehicle, as well as its partial tag, as the suspects left.
The passenger was able to provide descriptions of the suspects as well as a description of the suspect’s vehicle.
Cape Coral Police Officers were provided with the suspects and their vehicle description via the radio. Two veteran Officers, Officer Dustin Green and Officer Cristian Munoz Luna, spanned out from the scene and went toward locations where a suspect might likely try to leave the city.
The Officers saw a vehicle matching the description traveling at a high rate of speed Eastbound on Diplomat Pkwy., coming from the direction of the victim’s residence. Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop in the 2400 block of Diplomat Parkway East, near the city limit. The occupants were detained as they matched the descriptions provided by the victims.
A show-up was conducted and both the driver and the passenger independently identified all three occupants as being the same that had attempted to rob them. The vehicle, a white 2013 Kia Optima, had been reported stolen on March 16th. A semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the vehicle.
Cason was positively identified by the driver and his passenger as being the person armed with a handgun, making threats to shoot them while demanding money, and broke the passenger window attempting to enter the vehicle to stop the passenger from calling 911. Cason was charged with Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Burglary (all counts while armed).
Riquia Washington, was positively identified as demanding money and striking the driver in the face with the gun, which caused significant injury. Washington was charged with Robbery and Aggravated Battery (while armed).
The third suspect, Dejua Thomas was positively identified as being the third participant during the attempted robbery. Thomas was charged with Robbery while armed.
Additional charges are pending.
All three suspects were transported to Cape Coral Police Department for interviews and processing. They were later taken to Lee County Jail.
ARRESTED: Riquia Washington, B/F, DOB: 09-21-1990, of 1533 Lockwood Dr. Ft. Myers
CHARGES: Robbery with a Firearm and Aggravated Battery.
ARRESTED: Bruce Cason, B/M, DOB: 11-08-1992, of 511 NE 24 Ave., Cape Coral, Florida.
CHARGES: Robbery with a Firearm, Aggravated Assault, and Burglary.
ARRESTED: Dejua Thomas, B/F, DOB: 07-10-1992, of 232 Monterey St N. Ft Myers FL
CHARGES: Robbery with a Firearm.
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CAPE CORAL POLICE DEPARTMENT | Public Affairs Office | 1100 Cultural Park Boulevard | Cape Coral, FL 33990 | (239) 242-3341