Teen faces additional robbery charges
Additional charges have been filed against a Cape Coral teen accused of robbing a convenience store Friday.
Cape Coral Police have filed three additional robbery charges against Brian Robert Covello, 17, 1224 S.W. 38th Terrace, in connection with robberies that occurred at four convenience stores on Thursday night, Jan. 1, and Friday morning, Jan. 2.
Covello previously was arrested Jan. 2 and charged with the robbery at one of the stores, the Circle K store located at 1523 N.E. Pine Island Road. Police had responded to a call to the store on Pine Island Road at 12:36 a.m. This store was the third 24-hour convenience store robbed within a one-hour timeframe, police said.
An investigation by Cape Police Detective Paul Kaye found that probable cause exists to charge Covello in all four robberies, police said today.
The robbery calls began coming in at 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 1; police responded to a call from the clerk at the Circle K store at 533 Cape Coral Parkway. According to the clerk, a white male wearing a dark-hooded sweatshirt and dark sweat pants entered the store and demanded money. The suspect claimed to be in possession of a gun and the clerk handed the person $30, police said.
At 12:10 a.m. on Jan. 2, police responded to the BP Gas station at 2231 Del Prado Boulevard. According to the clerk, a white male wearing a dark-hooded sweatshirt and dark sweat pants entered the store and purchased a bottle of water. When the clerk opened the cash register, the male said he had a gun and he wanted the money. The clerk complied and handed the person $200.
At 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 2, police responded to the Circle K at 2505 Santa Barbara Boulevard. According to the clerk, the suspect was a white male, also wearing a sweatshirt and dark sweat pants. He purchased an inexpensive item and when the clerk opened the cash drawer, he told the clerk he had a gun and wanted the money from the cash register. The clerk handed the person $35.
Cape police officers were dispatched to other convenience stores in the Cape, and Covello was spotted at 3:50 a.m. by Officer Jennifer Bochetti behind another Circle K store at 2808 Del Prado Boulevard. Bochetti detained Covello for loitering, and he later was identified by a witness and arrested, police said.
He now faces four counts of robbery no firearm or weapon, and one count of loitering and prowling, a misdemeanor.
A police official said Sunday that police did not find a gun when Covello was taken into custody.
Covello currently is being held at the Southwest Florida Detention Center. He was taken to Lee County Jail where he was advised of the additional charges and processed, police said.
Source: Cape Coral Police Department