OCOEE, Fla. — Ocoee police arrested three teenagers Wednesday evening, accused of robbing two people in their front yard. Police said two of the teens, armed with guns, approached a man and a young female in the front yard of a home on Center Street (see map) last week and demanded the 18-year-old's cell phone and wallet.
Preston Madewell showed WFTV the front yard spot where his little sister and her friend were held up at gunpoint by a trio not much older than they.
"They were just on the back of the tailgate. Right over there, just hanging out," Preston Madewell said. "I think it's ludicrous. This is ridiculous. If I was here, something else would've happened."
Police said the two men fled to a waiting vehicle driven by a third male. The suspects were identified as 18-year-olds Edwin Chavez and Anthony Coleman and 17-year-old Valdemar Leal. The three suspects were arrested and, investigators said, full confessions were given by Chavez and Leal. Investigators also said they recovered a gun from Chavez's home.
The suspects, police said, ended up in the Center Street area after following home a drunk driver who they said cut them off in traffic. Investigators said the suspects agreed the drunk driver was an easy target and followed him home.
"I think initially going to harass him. But then they decided that, you know, ‘Hey, we've got a gun, let's go rob him," said James Berish, Ocoee police.
"And they just thought he'd be an easy target because he was drinking?" WFTV reporter George Spencer asked.
"That's what they thought," Berish replied.
After robbing the driver in his driveway, the three suspects then set their sights on the couple sitting a few blocks away in the front yard of the home on Center Street.
"Two little juvenile punks showed up, and they pulled out a gun on them," Madewell said.
Police located Chavez's vehicle leaving a convenience store on Silver Star Road Wednesday evening and attempted a traffic stop. A small quantity of marijuana packaged for sale and delivery was tossed from the vehicle prior to stopping for the officers.
Chavez, Coleman and 14-year-old Jaime Trevino were arrested at the scene. Trevino was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and had no connection to the robbery. Leal was later picked up at his home in Winter Garden.
None of the four young men have previous criminal histories.
WFTV
