Eight men were taken into custody in Florida after a rash of local robberies in Aug. One 40-year-old man reported that he was jogging when three men approached him at gunpoint and confiscated his iPod, wedding band and a watch valued at $150. After the, they escaped in a waiting car as a fourth man drove them away from the crime scene. He added that they told him to leave without looking back or risk being shot. Another walker in the area expressed her new-found hesitation of walking, especially if she sees someone she doesn’t recognize.
Other lovers of the outdoors initiated a campaign to raise awareness with city executives regarding the on-going problems with robberies. A 64-year-old woman who began the initiative requested stepped-up patrols in the neighborhood that has been especially hard-hit during the hours of 5 and 6:30 a.m. She expressed her concern after the crime spree and hopes that the robberies don’t indicate a trend.
A local police chief explained that they had been working with the authorities in the Miami area in order to solve the crimes. He believes that the robbers reside in Miami due to their activity in the area. Another police representative reported that they will continue to investigate and close the crimes but added that people should be cautious. Four of the eight men who were arrested supposedly committed the robbery of the 40-year-old jogger and ranged in age from 18 to 20.
When residents become concerned about a crime spree, they can put pressure on the police to take someone into custody quickly. This can result in an innocent person being accused of a crime due to contaminated evidence, erroneous witness identifications or someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A criminal defense attorney may examine all the hard evidence that links the accused with the crime. If the evidence is lacking or the accused can produce an alibi, it may be possible for the accused to be acquitted.
Source: CBS Miami, “Arrests Made In Gables Jogger Robbery“, September 15, 2013