Deputies have arrested a suspect for armed robbery and aggravated assault after the victim of the robbery and two other witnesses stopped him in the act. The robbery occurred at about 3:35 p.m. on September 4, 2009 in the parking lot of the 7-11 located at 13601 Gulf Boulevard in Madeira Beach. 

According to deputies the victim, Jose Morales, exited his vehicle, a 1996 Toyota Corolla and walked into the 7-11 to make a purchase. He left the keys in the ignition and his vehicle running. While inside the convenience store, Morales looked out and saw the suspect who was later identified as 58-year-old David Perkins, inside his vehicle.  

Morales ran out of the store and yelled at the suspect to stop as the suspect began driving his vehicle out of the parking lot. Morales then reached into the driver's side window and was eventually able to get the suspect to stop the vehicle.

Morales and two other witnesses identified as 33-year-old Robert Callahan and 42-year-old Gary Radke, who deputies say initially thought Morales was the suspect, managed to assist Morales in getting  Perkins out of the vehicle. 

As the three held Perkins by his shirt, Perkins pulled out a knife, cut his own shirt off with it, freed himself and began to flee. The three victims then chased him on foot. During the chase the suspect turned around, waved his knife and threatened the victims. At one point, an altercation began and one of the victims kicked Perkins in the head and knocked him to the ground.

Perkins was transported to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. He will subsequently be booked into the Pinellas County Jail for one-count armed robbery and 3-counts aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

David Perkins was previously arrested on Saturday, August 15, 2009 in connection with three armed robberies at the:

Beach Station Sunoco
16451 Gulf Blvd.
North Redington Beach
Robbed on August 2, 2009

Walgreen's Store #575
674 Tom Stuart Causeway
Madeira Beach
Robbed on August 5, 2009

Amish Creamery - ice cream and Amish Country food items
200 150 Ave.
Madeira Beach
Robbed on August 13, 2009

Please see press release 09-192 and 193 for further details on those cases.

The investigation continues.