Crime & Safety
Man Charged in 3 Largo Robberies at Knifepoint
The Pinellas Park man, also accused of at least two other similar crimes around Pinellas County, was caught after allegedly ramming a deputy's cruiser with a stolen vehicle in Dunedin.
A man accused of robbing three Largo businesses in the past two days at knifepoint on an apparent county-wide crime spree is behind bars after authorities said he rammed a deputy's cruiser in Dunedin on Tuesday.
According to Largo Police, Michael Roger Bourdeau, 45, committed three robberies Monday and Tuesday in Largo, each time displaying a knife and demanding cash.
Authorities also accuse Bourdeau of committing similar crimes in Clearwater — where police say he — and Oldsmar on Tuesday.
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Bourdeau, 45, of Pinellas Park, rammed a Pinellas County Sheriff's cruiser in an attempt to get away after a stolen Mercury Grand Marquis he was driving was spotted at a Dunedin shopping center, authorities say.
According to a press release from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office:
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"The suspect was observed exiting a store and entering the vehicle. Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop at which point the suspect rammed a deputy cruiser. Deputies used the PIT Maneuver to stop the vehicle."
Bourdeau was taken into custody. He was interviewed about the robbery at Sun Country Cleaners in Oldsmar and similar robberies in the last two days, according to the sheriff's office.
On Wednesday, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said Bourdeau will be charged with two counts of burglary in connection to thefts from a pair of Clearwater businesses: Frenchy's South Beach and French's Salt Water.
Largo Police say he is also responsible for the following robberies, each time flashing a knife to a store employee and making off with an undisclosed amount of cash:
- Tony's Shoe Repair, 12007 Indian Rocks Rd., at At 2:08 p.m. Monday
- Off The Rack, 7500 Ulmerton Rd., #21, at 2:43 p.m. Monday
- BP Gas, 6915 Ulmerton Rd., at 12:24 p.m. Tuesday
Boudreau is charged with three counts of robbery with a deadly weapon in connection with the Largo incidents, plus two other felony counts of armed robbery, authorities said. The St. Petersburg Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are also planning to charge Bourdeau, according to officials.
The investigation is ongoing.
[Updated April 17, 2013, 9:45 a.m.]
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