Chief of Police
St. Petersburg, FL 33705
(727) 893-7550
police.stpete.org
NEWS RELEASE
Report number: 2026-000519
Second Arrest Made in CVS 3rd St. South Robbery
Release updated on 01-14-26 at 1:34 PM
The second suspect in the CVS Third Street South store robbery on Jan. 5 is in custody.
Antone Jones was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 13, and charged with armed robbery. (booking photo below)
His accomplice, Joseph Lee-Brown, was arrested Jan. 6 in Hillsborough County and also charged with armed robbery.
Two suspects, identified as Jones and Joseph Lee-Brown, entered the CVS at 301 Third St. S. wearing face masks just before midnight Jan. 5. Jones went behind the store counter and shoved a salesclerk. At the same time, Lee-Brown began spraying store employees in the face with pepper spray. The robbers ran out of the store carrying more than $1,000 in store merchandise.
A string of similar store robberies has been reported in the region, including three in the city of St. Petersburg since Dec. 1.
Antone Jones
Pepper Spray Robbers
Release posted on 01-06-26 at 4:33 PM
Two masked people pepper-sprayed salesclerks during a robbery at a CVS store, 301 Third St. S., late Monday night. This is the third store they've robbed in the City of St. Petersburg since December first. They are also believed to be involved in a series of robberies at other stores in the region.
About 11:45 p.m. Monday, the two individuals wearing face masks entered the store. One of them forced their way behind the store counter and pushed the salesclerk. The second masked robber sprayed the clerk in the face with a substance believed to be pepper spray.
A second store clerk who tried to intervene was also doused with pepper spray.
The two masked individuals were last seen running from the store with more than $1,000 in store merchandise.
They were described as possibly being in their 20s, with long, black braids, and both wore blue surgical masks. The one who physically pushed the clerk was wearing a long-sleeved grey sweatshirt, black joggers with white stripes, and tan Ugg-style boots. The second robber, who sprayed the clerks, wore a long-sleeved white top with small, red hearts, black joggers, and sandals.
Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact the St. Petersburg Police Dept. at 727-893-7780 or text SPPD + your tip to TIP411.
Robbery Suspects
St. Petersburg Police Media Relations - (727) 893-7550
YOLANDA FERNANDEZ - Public Information Officer