What started as a parking lot meetup to sell THC vape cartridges at a West Palm Beach Wendy’s ended with guns drawn, a victim struck in the head, and three people in handcuffs, according to police.
Investigators say the victim was sitting in his pickup truck outside the fast-food spot, waiting to sell several Whole Melts disposable THC vape cartridges, when two armed suspects walked up. One climbed into the truck, another stood by the driver’s side, and one of them allegedly hit the victim with a handgun before the group took off. Within minutes, officers stopped a blue Honda Accord that matched the description and detained three people.
How police say the robbery unfolded
According to West Palm Beach Police Department probable-cause affidavits, as reported by CBS12, officers were called around 4:49 p.m. on June 16 to the Wendy’s at 951 City Side Drive after a man reported he had been robbed at gunpoint.
Police say the victim had arranged to meet an acquaintance in the lot to sell multiple Whole Melts THC disposable cartridges. A blue Honda pulled in, and two suspects, one who climbed into the truck and another who stood at the driver’s side, allegedly pointed firearms and demanded his property. The pair took the cartridges and the victim’s cellphone, according to the affidavits.
The victim ran into the restaurant to get help. Roughly seven minutes later, officers spotted a Honda that matched the description and stopped it, detaining the three occupants inside.
Charges and legal consequences
Police identified the three occupants as Santos Gonzales, Bryson Findlay Mercereau and Anthony Maltese. Investigators say surveillance footage and a show-up identification tied Mercereau and Maltese to the robbery scene.
According to police records, Mercereau has been charged with armed robbery with a firearm, and all three face related counts. Under Florida law, robbery in which a firearm or other deadly weapon is carried during the crime is a first-degree felony, and mandatory minimum penalties can apply when a firearm is carried, displayed or discharged during a violent felony. See Florida Statutes §812.13 and Section 775.087 for the statutes cited by prosecutors.
Police urge caution for in-person meetups
Officials warn that deals arranged through online platforms or private messages, especially for illicit or high-value items, can quickly turn into setups for robbery. They recommend meeting only in public, well-lit locations and making sure someone else knows when and where the meetup will happen.
The West Palm Beach Police Department has also reported a recent uptick in vehicle burglaries and urged residents to lock their cars and remove valuables. In a May news release, the department said nearly 160 vehicles had been burglarized so far this year and offered additional safety tips.
In this case, police say they recovered firearms and reviewed surveillance footage that linked the suspects to the Wendy’s robbery. Officers reported finding a loaded Glock 43X concealed in a cross-body satchel, and investigators say Maltese later admitted possessing a firearm that had been inside the Honda, as reported by CBS12.
The case has been turned over to prosecutors and remains under investigation. Police are asking anyone with additional information or video related to the incident to contact the department.
