An Ocala man and a juvenile were arrested early Monday morning shortly after Ocala Police officers scrambled to a report of an armed robbery.
Prior to officers arriving at 1551 NE 17th St., an Ocala Police sergeant spotted a black BMW turning east on NE 14th Street. The sergeant followed the vehicle for a considerable distance and noted that the passenger was “digging in the backseat” and the driver was “moving around a lot,” an Ocala Police report states.
When the sergeant attempted to stop the BMW, a pursuit ensued down NE 25th Avenue, with the suspect vehicle reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph. Officers reported losing sight of the BMW in the 4600 block of NE 25th Avenue and the sergeant slowed down to see if he could locate any skid marks to indicate where the vehicle may have traveled, the report says.
While doing so, the sergeant noticed two black males, later identified as 18-year-old Jacob A. Croft and a juvenile, running between the houses on the east side of NE 25th Avenue and into a yard at the intersection of NE 46th Place. The sergeant asked them if they had seen a black BMW go by and they said it traveled down NE 46th Street from NE 25th Avenue, the report says, adding that they spontaneously started talking about a horse farm with a trail, which is where the BMW eventually was located just off NE 46th Place.
The sergeant asked the males if he could search them for weapons and they agreed. While searching Craft, the sergeant noticed a square bulge that appeared to be the butt of a gun. Craft then attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended and it was discovered that he was carrying a .40-caliber Ruger pistol in his pocket, the report says, adding that the handgun’s serial number had been removed.
Craft also was carrying bags containing pills that later were identified as MDMA and Alprazolam and marijuana. The juvenile also had MDMA in his possession, the report says.
Meanwhile, at the robbery scene, officers were told that two black males, later identified as Craft and the juvenile, had walked up to two victims who were seated in their vehicle. One of the victims said that both of the suspects had firearms and pointed at them while telling them to “keep their mouth shut” and they would “blow your head off,” the report says.
The man said Craft and the juvenile demanded their phones and his keys to the vehicle, which he provided. He said they continued to make threats to shoot them and then walked into a nearby garage and attempted to enter a house, which was unsuccessful. The man said there was a verbal exchange between someone inside the residence and then Craft and the juvenile fled the scene in the vehicle, the report says.
The man positively identified both Craft and the juvenile and they were taken to the Ocala Police Department for questioning. Craft was later transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with two counts of armed robbery, attempted home invasion robbery, possession of a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, possession of MDMA, possession of Alprazolam, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and resisting arrest without violence. He was being held on $139,000 bond.
The juvenile, whose name wasn’t released by the Ocala Police Department, was charged with armed robbery, attempted home invasion robbery and possession of MDMA, the report says.