Deputies Bust Cantonment Man Red Handed During Armed Robbery

January 28, 2016

A Cantonment man was caught red-handed by deputies after he allegedly held an employee hostage at knife-point as he tried to rob a coffee shop on Perdido Key.

James Maitland Jones, 45, was charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery using deadly weapon, kidnapping and two counts of petit theft. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

Jones allegedly entered the businesses and held a large knife to a clerk’s neck, forcing her to empty all of the cash from the register and her purse. He then used a rope to tie-up the clerk, continually threatening to kill her if she screamed. He then began to ramble at the clerk, telling her not to smoke crack because crack had made him commit the robbery, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.

As the robbery was taking place, the clerk at an adjoining business, Perdido Pack and Ship, heard the commotion and saw the clerk being held with a knife to her neck. The shipping  store called 911, and deputies were on scene within two minutes.

Deputies entered the coffee shop and ordered Jones to drop the knife. He was detained without further incident.

“I was in constant fear of him killing me and I was terrified for my life,” the coffee shop clerk told deputies.

Jones was on felony state probation for armed burglary, having been released from prison last May. He has an extensive criminal history, according to Florida Department of Corrections records, having served time in Florida on two dozen felony charges, including multiple counts of burglary, grand theft and weapons charges from Escambia County.

Comments

10 Responses to “Deputies Bust Cantonment Man Red Handed During Armed Robbery”

  1. Shay on January 29th, 2016 12:26 am

    What happened to the three strikes you’re out rule? Habitual felon? Seems he fell through the holes somewhere

  2. David Huie Green on January 28th, 2016 8:00 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Don’t we all feel better about his successful rehabilitation last May.?”

    I know I certainly do, MONEY WELL SPENT.

    David for reforming career criminals
    (using a hydraulic press)

  3. DP on January 28th, 2016 6:51 pm

    Death penalty !! No more chances.

  4. Jann on January 28th, 2016 2:51 pm

    Thank goodness cool heads prevailed. ECSO, great job on response time! And neighboring employee, way to watch out for your neighbors! This could have easily had a different outcome had the coffee shop employee panicked. Maybe this time he won’t get out so soon!!

  5. concerned citizen on January 28th, 2016 7:51 am

    To the shipping company employee, GREAT JOB!!! Great example for other businesses, be on guard for other businesses around you, and they can be on guard for you.

  6. Anne on January 28th, 2016 6:55 am

    We’ve been to MoJo’s Coffee Shop at Perdido area and to me it is the LEAST likely of places to try and rob.
    Good coffee, Fine employees and owner but just not the sort of place I’d ever think of robbing.
    Of course, I’m not on crack….just caffeine.
    Pleased nobody was seriously physically harmed.

  7. Billy D on January 28th, 2016 6:49 am

    nice job of being a good wingman by the other clerk. Good to know that somebody has your back in a bad situation. Maybe this trash will get some much needed rest where the sun doesn’t shine quite so much and bars close behind you every day. With a history like he has it makes you wonder why they allow him back on the streets so soon…….too bad judges don’t think logically and realize you just can’t fix some folks with a slap on the wrist. Enough slaps on the wrist and they only have scar tissue with no feelings, so the slaps do no good.

  8. tg on January 28th, 2016 6:41 am

    He is just lonely for his friends back in prison. Sometimes rehab just dosent work.

  9. Will Enfinger on January 28th, 2016 5:20 am

    Don’t we all feel better about his successful rehabilitation last May.?

  10. Gman on January 28th, 2016 5:11 am

    Good job to the clerk at the pack and ship as well as to law enforcement.