Man Charged With Robbing Cab Drivers For Fourth Time

The Sarasota Police arrested a 27-year-old man on charges of armed robbery after a cab driver was robbed while driving in the pre-dawn hours Monday.

This is the fourth time that Sarasota Police Officers have arrested James B. Brown on robbery charges, according to the police report. Brown was convicted of the three previous robberies all involving cab drivers and was sentenced to five years in prison.

According to a Sarasota Police report:

A cab driver picked up Brown around 3:20 a.m. on Feb. 11, at the La Quinta Inn, 1803 N. Tamiami Trail.

The cab driver told police Brown entered the cab and sat in the backseat directly behind the cab driver. He was told to drive to the area of 12th Street and Cocoanut Avenue.

As the victim was driving Brown leaned towards the front seat, stuck a gun against the victim’s side, and demanded money. The victim told police he pulled out cash and handed it to Brown, who grabbed the cash, jumped out of the cab and walked north on Cocoanut Avenue.

Sarasota Police Officers Nelson and Jaimes were at the scene within a minute of being dispatched. Officer Vance and Officer Holcomb quickly located  Brown at 1341 14th Street. 

Officers drove the victim to 14th Street and the victim positively identified Brown as the man who had robbed him at gun point.

Police then retraced Brown's steps based on what the victim had seen. Holcomb found a firearm on the roof of 1267 14th St. Vance and Holcomb also located loose cash on the roof and the back yard of 1341 14th St., where they found Brown.

Brown was arrested on charges of armed robbery. He remains in Sarasota County Jail on $100,000 bond.