VERO BEACH — The 29-year-old woman accused of trying to rob a patron in the parking lot of Burger King is now in the St. Lucie County Jail medical ward after her would-be victim backed over her with a station wagon.
Robin Ashley Renick Russo was taken to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center Tuesday night after the incident occurred at the Burger King on U.S. 1 in Vero Beach. Russo was released from the hospital and booked into the jail on Thursday morning on a charge of felony attempted robbery.
Witnesses at the scene corroborate the driver’s version of events that Russo tried to open the passenger door and then approached the driver’s side. A man with whom the victim was on the telephone at the time of the incident also heard a voice yelling an expletive-laced demand for money.
The driver said Russo gestured under her shirt as if to indicate that she had a gun.
When the driver attempted to get away and then realized she’d backed over the woman, the report says she turned off the car and called 911.
Vero Beach Police Officer Ryan Eggers arrived on the scene and spoke to the driver, who pointed him to a silver Volkswagen where the accused robber had gone after the incident.
Eggers reported, “I observed the female sitting in the rear seat of the other vehicle attempting to hide from my sight. I walked over to the vehicle and made contact with the female, who appeared to be heavily intoxicated. She had multiple abrasions and lacerations and was unresponsive and uncooperative.”
Eggers said based upon the driver’s statement, he placed Russo in handcuffs and called for paramedics to respond.
A complaint affidavit by Vero Beach Police Det. Bradley Kmetz states that no gun or other weapon was found at the scene.
In the complaint, Kmetz relays an interview with a male associate of Russo who arrived with her at Burger King that evening, ordered food and walked outside near the handicap parking to wait for a ride. The man described Russo as “crazy” and said “that Ms. Russo was drunk and that they had both taken prescription drugs earlier in the day.”
He initially thought the station wagon was the ride Russo was waiting for, but said he knew nothing about an attempted robbery.
The amount of Russo’s bond shows a status of “pending” as she is in the medical ward and will be transferred to Indian River County to face charges. Due to her injuries, Russo was booked into the closest facility to the Ft. Pierce hospital.
