A quick grab for a pack of smokes on North Dale Mabry Highway ended with a clerk on the floor and a Tampa man in handcuffs, according to deputies. Authorities say a convenience-store robbery on April 12 left an employee with a broken wrist after the suspect went behind the counter, took cigarettes and shoved the worker before running off. Deputies say they caught up with him just north of the store and took him to the county jail.
What deputies say
In an April 14 post, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a reported robbery at the store at 8458 N. Dale Mabry Highway on April 12 and took 45-year-old Nicholas Mavrogordato into custody after the shove and theft. The agency said the employee suffered a broken wrist during the confrontation. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Charges and booking
Public booking records show Mavrogordato was processed on April 12 and faces counts that include battery on a victim over 65, robbery less than $750 and giving a false name to law enforcement. Those charges appear on the county booking log and were entered after deputies arrested him near the scene. Arrests.org.
Where it happened
The incident occurred at the convenience-store address listed as 8458 N. Dale Mabry Hwy in north Tampa, an address that corresponds to a Wawa convenience store. That stretch of Dale Mabry is a busy commercial corridor with multiple gas stations and shops. Waze.
Legal implications
Under Florida law, a battery committed against someone 65 or older is reclassified as a felony, which carries far stiffer penalties than a misdemeanor battery. The statute also notes the reclassification can apply regardless of whether the defendant knew the victim's age. Florida Statutes outline the upgraded offense and sentencing ranges.
The sheriff's office did not immediately release additional details about the victim's condition or whether prosecutors have filed formal charges; prosecution decisions rest with the State Attorney's Office. The county arrest portal operated by the sheriff's office also notes that an arrest is a record of detention and not a conviction. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
