Arrest Made in Two Store Robberies, Police Say

A suspect has been arrested in connection with two armed robberies in Sarasota, according to police.

The first is the armed robbery of a 7-Eleven at 511 N. Washington Blvd. The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. June 30, according to a media release from Sarasota Police.

The suspect entered the store carrying a brick and went behind the counter and "physically assaulted the clerk and removed several items from the store including an unknown amount of cash from the register," according to a news release.

Police circulated surveillance photos of the armed robbery to its patrol division. Sunday evening, an officer observed the suspect wearing the same shirt and shoes as seen in the photos near the Salvation Army at 1400 10th St., authorities report.

As an officer tried to arrest the suspect, he attempted to get away after he picked up a chair and threw it at the officer, police said. After a foot chase the suspect was arrested near 10th Street and Lemon Avenue.

John Coates, 19, was arrested and charged with two counts of armed robbery, resisting arrest, possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to police, "Coates confessed to being responsible for the armed robbery of the 7-11 Sunday morning as well as a second armed robbery of the Smoke Shop at 2815 N Tamiami Trail on June 14, 2013."

A booking photo was not yet available.