INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Sheriff’s Office has arrested three people in connection with an armed robbery of an 80-year-old woman at the Indian River County Mall.
Kasey Cooper, 29, of Fort Pierce and Jerrell Copeland, 23, and Ashley Walker, 24, both of Tallahassee, have been arrested and named in the incident, according to Indian River County Spokesman Lt. Thomas Raulen.
Walker faces charges of felony armed robbery with a deadly weapon, felony tampering or destroying evidence, felony introduction of contraband into a detention facility, and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license.
Copeland faces charges of felony robbery with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
Cooper faces charges of felony armed robbery with a deadly weapon, using or displaying a weapon during a commission of a felony, possession of a firearm/ammo/electric device by a convicted felon, felony introduction of contraband into a detention facility, and felony tampering or destroying evidence.
All are being held currently at the Indian River County Jail in lieu of bail. Cooper’s bail is set for $570,000, Walker, $521,000, and Copeland’s is set for $501,000.
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a strong-armed robbery in the parking lot of the mall around noon Wednesday.
The victim reported to deputies she was leaving the mall and a black truck approached her as she walked to her car, according to authorities. The victim noted a female got out of the truck and attempted to grab her purse. In doing so, the victim fell to the ground and received minor injuries to her arm.
The suspect then used a chemical agent believed to be mace and sprayed the victim in the face. Taking the victim’s purse, the suspect then fled the parking lot with another female driving the truck.
Based on the victim’s description of the vehicle, deputies located the suspects’ truck within minutes and initiated a traffic stop near the 8000 block of State Road 60, according to the Sheriff’s Office. As the suspect vehicle was pulling over, the victim’s purse was tossed from the passenger side window, in clear view of the deputy, according to authorities.
Both female occupants as well as a male passenger were taken into custody.
The victim was taken to the emergency room where she was treated for minor injuries including an abrasion on her arm and eye irritation, according to authorities.
“I am proud of the men and women of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office for the quick action resulting in the apprehension of these suspects,” according to Sheriff Deryl Loar. “We recognize the enhanced vulnerability many of our seniors experience and are especially cognizant of the seriousness of an attack such as this. We will work with the Office of the State Attorney to prosecute these individuals to full extent of the law.”
