Suspect Arrested For Robbery, Assault Of Pregnant Female Clerk; Charged With Second Robbery

June 19, 2014

Police have arrested a man they say robbed a cell phone store after punching a young pregnant female clerk in the face before taking an undisclosed amount of money.

Vincent Lavon Johnson, 41, was taken into custody in the 3000 block of North Roosevelt Street. He was charged with felony battery, strong-arm robbery and burglary. Police said he was wearing the same shorts and shoes he had on during the robbery at the time of his arrest. He was also charged with a similar crime in Escambia County.

The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. at Boost Mobile at 5039 Bayou Boulevard, near Cordova Mall.

Officer Greg Gordon said Johnson entered the store two times. The second time he was in the business, he put his phone in his pocket, approached a counter, reached over the counter, and struck a female employee in the face.

Gordon said the Johnson then demanded the employee tell him how to open the register.

She complied and he took some money and the store phone before leaving the business. The store employee was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

When officers responded to a tip that Johnson was on Roosevelt Avenue, an officer spotted Johnson running away. He was able to evade officers, but a K-9 track by Officer James Parsons and his partner Jannus led police to a home in the 3000 block of North Roosevelt where he was found

Escambia County Robbery

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday afternoon that Johnson was also arrested on an outstanding warrant with their agency for the May 28, 2014, robbery at Happy Nick’s Store on Palafox Street.

Deputies say Johnson entered the store and began to walk behind the counter. When the clerk asked him was he needed, he punched her, knocking her to the ground. He then grabbed cash from the register and fled.

The complete unedited surveillance video from Boost Mobile, as provided by the Pensacola Police Department, is below. WARNING: Some readers may find the video disturbing.

If you do not see the video, is it because your home, work or school firewall is blocking YouTube videos.

Comments

52 Responses to “Suspect Arrested For Robbery, Assault Of Pregnant Female Clerk; Charged With Second Robbery”

  1. Magnus Fischer on December 12th, 2015 7:16 am

    This really makes me sick. I’m 100% AGAINST the death penalty, in all cases regardless. But pathetic cowards like this worthless degenerate piece of crap really make me question that. I’m not changing my mind, however watching this clip makes me wish I would/could…

  2. Beth on June 22nd, 2014 7:55 am

    I would not want anyone to worry too much over what punishment this man will get. I am sure it will be a little slap on the wrist, but nothing unbearable. I imagine he can survive a little chastising by the judge and a little tap on the wrist as he is released back into society.

  3. Evian on June 20th, 2014 9:52 pm

    If we would raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour this poor man wouldn’t have to steal. In fact, thousands of people who have never worked a day in their lives would rush the streets to become productive members of society.

  4. Alfonso on June 20th, 2014 9:24 pm
  5. Rod dog on June 20th, 2014 6:13 pm

    This guy is a monster he needs life in prison get used to this kind of stuff this is the way America is going we have to many people that cannot take care of themselves and victimize old women pregnant women he is disgusting he is subhuman he is trash he needs to give himself to the Lord and ask for mercy and forgiveness but never see the light of day again

  6. justcause on June 20th, 2014 5:48 pm

    I’m glad Henry Coe knows everything about anything, and that we are now all smarter after reading this! Quit blaming everything else and blame the scum who did it. The cause of this crime was due to who he is not the drugs or lack of job! I know plenty of people who do drugs and have no job and they don’t go around robbing and beating on people!

  7. justice on June 20th, 2014 5:31 pm

    @clarifying…this was a joint effort by both ECSO and PPD..

  8. susan on June 20th, 2014 4:29 pm

    Wendy asked if it was drugs or low job rate. You seem to think workers comp is the root of everyone’s hardship. I would like to point out….there is a multitude of employee fraud and drug abuse involved with workers comp. You rarely see a person out on workers comp agree to new job training, modified duty , or god-forbid education. They want their comp paycheck, drugs and perks for life.

  9. clarifying on June 20th, 2014 3:41 pm

    Billy, not taking anything away from ECSO, but this all the work of PPD.

  10. Katie on June 20th, 2014 2:58 pm

    Totally gratuitous what this ‘man’ did. Wonder if he would have tried this with someone his own size? I’m fed up with privileged males thinking that just because a worker is female and on a lower salary they can treat us like dirt.

  11. Scooter on June 20th, 2014 2:18 pm

    Why don’t we stop fussing about him and focuse on her and her well being she could have lost her life and her unborn baby. Thank god she didn’t. Her life has changed forever. I was listing to tk101 this morning and they are doing a wonderful thing for this young women and her baby. They are doing a collection for her and the baby. This goes to show you that there are wonderful people still in this world. May god bless you and you little.

  12. Henry Coe on June 20th, 2014 8:23 am

    @Susan, I was replying to a question asked by Wendy in regard to society and I listed many different scenarios that could exacerbate the crime rate due to people living in poverty in relation to what ever their plight is in our socioeconomic environment.

    I really don’t understand why some of you are unable to understand what people say in context to what is being discussed.
    When you read something, be it political or about gardening or in the bible, there is a context to what is being discussed starting with understanding what the subject matter is in relation to the conversation or topic.
    It’s inappropriate to grab one part of something said in a sentence while ignoring everything else in the paragraph and deciding to change the discussion too being only about what you have decided to argue about while you ignore the context.
    I know Conservative Pundits use these tactics all the time, but that doesn’t mean it is ok. It just means the conversation is being manipulated or the person taking the information out of context after reading it doesn’t really understand how the English language works when trying to comprehend what is written.

  13. Curious on June 20th, 2014 5:20 am

    Henry Coe, you may need help with your mind, but that doesn’t stop you from running your mouth. I along with others apparently understood what you typed, try changing your words. If people failed you, I’m sorry, but some people were taught that you still have to work, & not use excuses, yes I’ve been around people that have disabilities, some use that as a card, some don’t, like being a 30-40 some years, on SS, that I’ve worked for, can’t work, but can go hunting, fishing & the like, I think not, getting a sticker , because they can’t walk from way out in parking lot because they have asthma, when they don’t do anything, kid plays wii games all day inside, that’s not asthmatic, that’s called lazy & riding the system, so yeah I know people with different types of them & some do work, if they can, my daddy is still working in his 60’s, with problems, some people just don’t want it to get them down, some people can’t work, but they don’t steal or beat up pregnant people. I hope somebody comes along to help you, sometimes it’s bad but people do fall through the cracks, but if you help yourself, you might get help. God Bless

  14. billy on June 20th, 2014 1:55 am

    Thank you Escambia County Sheriff’s office. God bless you guys.

  15. susan on June 19th, 2014 10:03 pm

    Henry Coe, this is NOT about workers comp! Its about a lazy worthless individual that prefers to steal. Take a long look at his arrest record. This guy is self employed……his job is being a scumbag that robs, steals, and assaults hard working people.

  16. Concerned on June 19th, 2014 9:15 pm

    I AM SURPRISED THIS MAN DIDNT GET ANY BRUSIES WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED. CUDOS TO THE POLICE. SCUM LIKE THIS DOES NOT TO BE ALLOWED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. I CAN ONLY HOPE WHEN HE GETS TO PRISON SOMEONE THERE WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM

  17. John on June 19th, 2014 9:06 pm

    For the sake of political correctness, and being offensive the only way to solve or reduce the criminal element that prays on honest people in our county or country as a matter of fact, is to 1. Stop being politically correct and just plain tell it like it is. 2. Deal harshly with these criminals make it two strikes and your out! And i mean all the way out.

    And he also should have received two assault charges one for the mother and one for the unborn baby.

  18. cris on June 19th, 2014 9:05 pm

    well i think this guy need to be stoned to dead there is no excuse for his action probably needed some dope, and yes he probably do 6 months in county jail big f”’ing deal,and hard working people pay for that to i guess next time he will kill someone then the will decide to do something about him,

  19. LB on June 19th, 2014 9:04 pm

    I am not pregnant..You do not have the stones to try that with a man…You are gonna find yourself over you head someday you thug coward!!!!!!!!

  20. Richard on June 19th, 2014 8:18 pm

    How long will employers get a free pass on only having one employee in a store at a time? It seems to me employees that are alone get hurt the more often.I am not one for a litigious society,but employee safety is something I’m for.If they do not pay for employee safety on the front side and put profit over safety,they should pay heavily on the back side.Criminals and Employers know a lone employee is an easy target.

  21. tsg on June 19th, 2014 7:44 pm

    Why was he out on the streets?He should not have had a bail so low that he could make bail I wounder if Judge GB was his judge he seems to let these kind of people off without any real punishment.

  22. Scott on June 19th, 2014 7:31 pm

    Somehow I have a feeling he will slip through the system and end up with probation because that’s all judges want to hand out. Let’s damn sure hope not!!! He needs to be in jail for a long time. Should have been there quite some time ago looking at his prior records. Prime definition of habitual if I ever saw one.

    What the hell is happening to Pensacola?!

  23. Marie on June 19th, 2014 7:25 pm

    This idiot must have an IQ of 10 I bet he will be out on the street in no time at all and this time he may kill some hard working person. kepp this scum where he belongs in jail or under it.

  24. Henry Coe on June 19th, 2014 5:41 pm

    @Curious, You, like some others, obviously didn’t comprehend what I was saying in my post to Wendy. Try considering the context of what I said. Especially in relation to the question “Wendy” asked, that I was replying too.

    Not that your comments made any relevant points to what I was discussing, but as far as someone without legs working or anyone with a disability working, if they are able to, that great. Some of them do get Social Security and are only allowed to make so much on top of that or they risk losing their SS. So they may work a couple of hours a day some limited number per week.
    Another thought about disabled people working, it makes a big difference as to how much support they get with what they can do. If they don’t have to shop for groceries and don’t have to prepare their meals and don’t have to do their own laundry and clean their own home and have help caring for themselves 24/7/365, that is much different than someone who is disabled who doesn’t have that support.
    Different disabilities come with very different challenges when it comes to what people can do for themselves or in being able to work. You deciding that different people with different disabilities can work because you saw an amputee working as a greeter, just shows how much you don’t know about living with disabilities.
    At some point in life, we all become challenged by gravity and truthfully, if you are 25 years old or any age really, it could happen in 50 years or 50 minutes. Just sayin’

  25. Henry Coe on June 19th, 2014 5:14 pm

    @danny, if you read my post, there is no way you can understand it to mean I’m making excuses for the loser who committed these crimes.

  26. David Huie Green on June 19th, 2014 4:43 pm

    REGARDING:
    “I’m definitely NOT saying crime is justified, but from a socioeconomic perspective there is a cause and effect element in the works that IMO means the crime rate will only go up while poor people can only find jobs that pay below poverty level and CEO’s who shelter their money in off shore accounts make 1000’s of dollars per hour.”

    Henry, actually, even though you are not admitting it, you ARE justifying the crime when you say the crime rate is tied to the money others make versus the money the criminals make, when you say one causes the other.

    Own up to what you’re saying, don’t hide it:
    1. We need to hire criminal scum so they don’t commit crimes.
    2. We need to limit how much people can make so they don’t make too much more than the criminal scum makes.
    (Not that we would call them the scum they are.)

    On the other hand, it looks ridiculous when written out clearly.
    I guess that’s why those who advocate such things don’t say them clearly.
    If you can’t blind them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bull.

    People commit crimes because they decide to commit crimes.
    They decide to commit crimes because they believe they can get away with them and figure they will benefit from them in the form of money or pleasure.
    They also do it because they believe they will get away with the crimes.

    David for better people

  27. danny on June 19th, 2014 4:27 pm

    Come On Henry!!! Stop making excuses for people like this. This person probably doesn’t want a job, and that is the problem with America today. Too many people waiting on a ticket to the front porch. Whose fault is it that some folks floated through school and can’t even hold down a low skill job. Now they want to blame the “System” for their lack of skills and inability to support themselves. Stop blaming the leaders, the system, drugs, low pay, rich people, corporate America, and everything else people blame for their short comings and go get a JOB.

  28. paul on June 19th, 2014 1:14 pm

    It really says a lot about our court system when this guy was even allowed to walk amongst us with a criminal record like his.

  29. sharon on June 19th, 2014 1:00 pm

    THANK GOD THEY CAUGHT HIM !!!!!!!!!!

  30. William on June 19th, 2014 12:00 pm

    COMMENTS BELOW THIS ONE WERE MADE ON AN EARLIER VERSION OF THIS STORY PRIOR TO THE SUSPECT’S ARREST

  31. @ CONCERNED on June 19th, 2014 11:34 am

    @ CONCERNED….Are you kidding????? That stuff is done EVERYDAY in the REAL world. You sure don’t seem CONCERNED about the young girl in this video that it REALISTICALLY happened to and I BET you they WILL find this person!!!!!! For the young girl in this video I hate that you were working to provide for yourself and this LOWLIFE SORRY EXCUSE FOR A MAN did this to you. Hope all is well with you & your unborn baby & they pick this guy up SOON!!

  32. just saying on June 19th, 2014 11:05 am

    there is no excuse for his actions its not he stole a loaf of bread to feed a starving family. No he assaulted a defenseless pregnant woman for cold hard cash. The man that behaves like a wild beast is no better than a beast and should be treated like any other nuisance animal. You want justice let people take turns punching him in the face that is eye for an eye. However, if you want something else that takes considerably more thought and time rehabilitation does not take place in 6 months or even a year and it only works if the person wants it to work.

  33. Workin Man on June 19th, 2014 10:53 am

    @Concerned… You saying that can’t be done ?

  34. Terri Sanders on June 19th, 2014 9:49 am

    maybe he is stupid enough to use the cell phone and LEO can trace his location. This lady will be traumatized for the rest of her life because of this low life. Crime does pay in this country. You do the crime but only a small percentage does the time. While we tax payers fund their legal representation, their room and board. Then you have the man who stole a loaf of bread for his family and was sentenced to life in prison. Our judicial system is neither just nor fair the majority of the time. This guy didn’t have a gun so he will just get a slap on the hand.
    Rant over…I feel somewhat better…

  35. Concerned on June 19th, 2014 9:31 am

    Enhance the video? Zoom in on his face? LOL. Those comments are hilarious. Some here have been watching to much law and order. That’s all TV creative licenses. I can’t believe people actually think that can be done. Come back to reality any time..

  36. homeschool mom on June 19th, 2014 9:11 am

    We need open carry in this state. If she had had a gun hanging on her side, he might have thought twice. Shame on him!!! He has no respect for life at all.

  37. Delson on June 19th, 2014 8:47 am

    Give me a break , there are jobs out there , the problem is some people think they are too good for that type of work ”flipping burgers ”’ or it does not pay enough or they are just plain lazy,well let me tell you any job is worth it as long as you are making an honest living and not doing crap like this I myself had a job cleaning toilets for 8 years it was a job not the best but I earned my own money took care of my family and did not steal from anyone bottom line is it ’s not right and can not be justified in any way shape or form I hope she will be ok and as for him nothing but trash.punching a pregnant women in the face knocking her down and then robbing the register ,what a low life no excuses accepted and I have never in my 50 years lived in such a screwed up area with such screwed up people in my entire life .

  38. Gembeaux on June 19th, 2014 8:40 am

    @Henry Coe: That sure sounds a bit socialistic. How does the amount of money I’ve made as a business owner, who spent years doing without, scaping and saving in order to build my company, employing dozens of workers, cause this person to choose this route? Yes, I’ve invested, yes I’ve saved so that I can pay my bills, and support my family and myself, even when I’m no longer viable in the work force. I am a product of my choices, just as this person is. He wasn’t forced to do this heinous act, he chose to, and he is responsible for making that choice. And, just so you know, I am not a “child of privelege” – I am from a lower middle-class family and attended Escambia County public schools. I chose to pay attention, work hard, and create my own path; these are the same choices everyone has. As long as there are politicians, like your president (because I don’t claim him as mine) encouraging entire ethnicities and subcultures in America to live off of others’ earnings as their career, this will continue to happen.
    Additionally, all the answers we need to be successful, God has aleady given us. The Ten Commandments are beautiful and effective guidelines regardless of your religion. Like “Do Not Steal”. We are also told to be honest, to be just, and be compassionate. This person certainly was not, and to blame that on a business owner with large savings is simply a ridiculous non-sequitor.

  39. Billy Ray jr jr on June 19th, 2014 8:38 am

    People need to work until they are age eligable for social security.
    If you can drive a van, chat on the internet, and play pool, you can work.

  40. NORTH9MILE on June 19th, 2014 8:17 am

    I HOPE THE YOUNG LADY AND HER BABY ARE OK.. IM SURE ITS GOING TO BE ALONG TIME BEFORE SHE GET PASSED THIS. I FOR ONE AM SO SICK OF THIS KIND OF STUFF GOING ON ALL AROUND US EVERYDAY AND ALL THE WHILE OUR SHERIFF IS SITTING AROUND IN TOWN HALL MEETINGS TELLING US THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER. SORRY SR I JUST DONT BELIVER YOU ANYMORE. WE PAY OUR LAW MEN WITH TAX PAYERS MONEY. IM SORRY BUT THEY WORK FOR US. CLEAN IT UP OR MOVE ON SHERIFF..DONT PASS THE BUCK TO THE COURT HOUSE WE PAY THEM TO. THEY WOUL

  41. haley on June 19th, 2014 8:11 am

    This guy is horrible. It amazes me how someone can decide they want something tht does not belong to them and just go in and take it. Hopefully, they can enhance the video so that this idiot can be much easier to identify. I saw a report on one of the news shows which advised Pcola is in the top 10 (number 6), dangerous small cities in the US. WOW…..I think one of the problems is the judicial system. The laws seem very slack with crimes like these and tough on more petty crimes. This guy needs to be caught and put away. He is a menace to society. What a scum bag.

  42. Curious on June 19th, 2014 7:54 am

    Henry Coe, my father in law didn’t go do crimes when he had to wait for SS, & I once saw a man working @ a Walmart w/out either of his legs, if he can work, others can also.

  43. Don on June 19th, 2014 7:14 am

    Just a person out there working (like he should of been) and this scum does this,hope the next time he try’s it someone puts a 9mm between his ears!

  44. armymajorswife on June 19th, 2014 7:10 am

    You are so right!!! The whole area is out of control from North Escambia to Pensacola… It’s so sad. I refuse to move back to the area to raise my children. I hate that I still have family in the area and worry about them daily. It’s too bad the clerk didn’t have a gun behind the counter and shoot to protect herself. It just makes me sick to my stomach.

  45. Riversunshine on June 19th, 2014 6:59 am

    I hope they catch this scum and throw him under the jail. This makes my blood boil to watch him hit that poor girl…Our ancestors would roll over in their grave to see a man treat a woman like that, and her pregnant at that.

  46. Henry Coe on June 19th, 2014 6:35 am

    @Wendy saying “Are drugs the problem or low job rate??? Where’s our leaders???”

    Yes and Yes, those are both problems. While this guy needs to be put under the jail, there are other problems as well.
    When people have family members that have to spend 2, 4, 6 or 8 years before they get approved for Social Security and Employers of injured worker only have to pay money benefits for 2 years even if the person can’t return to work, or unemployment benefits are capped out when jobs can’t be found, along with the drug problems that may be exacerbated because of the gap in Medicaid and people not being able to get regular long term consistent health care, especially if you are a single male with no dependents, there are many problems in how we have structured society that will very likely contribute to the crime rate.
    I’m definitely NOT saying crime is justified, but from a socioeconomic perspective there is a cause and effect element in the works that IMO means the crime rate will only go up while poor people can only find jobs that pay below poverty level and CEO’s who shelter their money in off shore accounts make 1000’s of dollars per hour.

  47. Workin Man on June 19th, 2014 6:31 am

    William….. Any way to zoom in on his face ???? Crime Stoppers needs to get busy on this one……

  48. Henry Coe on June 19th, 2014 6:18 am

    That’s a special kind of lowlife. Hope LE finds this scum very quickly.

  49. Tcrabtree on June 19th, 2014 5:49 am

    This guy needs a bullet & nothing less.. This poor lady

  50. flawed human on June 19th, 2014 5:45 am

    I pray that God will help this “man” to see error of his ways and I pray that the mother to be is ok and that her heart is not hardened because of this incident………. thats what I hope God does… but I’m a flawed human that would like very much to have an opportunity beat the the living Hell out of this piece of garbage and make sure everyone in his wing at the prison sees this video so they know what a coward and a the real sissy that he is…..Lord forgive me.

  51. Wendy on June 19th, 2014 3:05 am

    Things are getting out of control. Wake up Pensacola, time to take our city and home back!!! Are drugs the problem or low job rate??? Where’s our leaders???

  52. Just Me on June 19th, 2014 3:02 am

    OMG! I sure hope they get this piece of garbage!!!!!!