Armed Pinellas teens accused of carjacking and robbery

ST. PETERSBURG - Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies arrested and charged three teenage boys with carjacking and armed robbery after they say the boys cut off a car and forced the victims out at gunpoint Sunday night.

Deputies say around 7:14 p.m., 33-year-old Carey Bunch and 27-year-old April Duffy were driving in a 2004 Nissan Altima when they were suddenly cut off by a black Mercury Sable at 64th Avenue N and 31st Street. Three boys, one of whom was armed, forced Bunch and Duffy out and to the ground at gunpoint.

The boys robbed the two, then split up and drove off in both cars. Bunch and Duffy called 911, and deputies later saw the cars at an apartment complex at 1921 58th Ave. N, according to deputies' reports. They also saw the suspects and stopped two of them in a breezeway. The third ran but was tracked by a deputy and his canine.

Deputies recovered a handgun from the boys, as well as the victims' belongings.

The boys who were arrested and charged were:

Robert Lee Bassett, top left, 16, of 15080 Willow Way, Unit B, in Clearwater. He was charged with carjacking, armed robbery and possession of crack cocaine.

Jason Davis, right, 16, of 757 20th Ave. N, in St. Petersburg. He was charged with carjacking and armed robbery.

Dezmond D. Henry, left, 15, of 15136 Windtree Drive, Unit C, in Clearwater. He was charged with carjacking, armed robbery, resisting arrest without violence and violation of probation.

 

 

Emily Nipps, Times staff writer

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Comments

[DDOG]

Once again, who do we blame ?
THE PARENTS !!!!!
Yes, the teens commited the crime but, this all starts at home with proper child raising. So before anyone throws out the race card lets stop and look at the whole picture here and in most these crimes commited by teens.

[fairplay]

Yes, the parents have failed. 16 year old boys with guns and carjacking. Mom, Dad, where are you? Where have you been? Unfortunately, one must look at the race card as it is mostly the black culture that we see carjackings but one day it may cross the color barrier. The issue isn't the race as much it is the culture of role models. The "hood" needs to put the right role models out there BIG. There are plenty of fine men and women that can be and should be promoted for their contributions to the community. The youth are watching others in the neighborhood brag about their illegal activities and are emulating that behavior. This must stop with a new start. If it continues, there will be a time when the guns are used. Mom, Dad, find a way to put the right role models out there for your children to model their behavior after.

[fairplay]

Dezmond and Jason sure look a lot alike. Might want to fix that.

[mrknowitall]

parents to busy smoking crack and doing their own crimes. No not being racial at all. It's just the way things are. I would bet if ran records on parents you'd find me right. They were brought up with no respect. Not for themselves or anybody else. Thinking that having pants pulled down almost to knees is cool instead of how stupid it actually is. Talking trash and trying to act like gansta's to them is what is happnin.
Only thing that startles me is this crap is happening in florida where most (law abiding) people are packing, and how a lot of them have got away without being left with a cap in his butt

[memaw]

Okay, yes these little creeps' parents should have played a role in their upbringing - but they are almost grown men at this stage. A little too late, I'd say.

I was not surprised by the pictures (although the Times messed up on that one) and hope that these thugs get what they deserve.

Times are sad when people cannot enjoy an evening out because of no-good, lazy, law-breaking thugs like these idiots.

I wonder why our opinions have changed so much in recent years...... I wonder.

[Ty]

I mean, I know we all look the same but I am pretty sure that two of the pictures above are exactly the same. I think one picture was duplicated, and one left out. Anyway, these thugs are idiots. Blame in on the parents and every other lowlife in this area. Just kick them all of P-county. Maybe there is room for them at Lowry Park?

[Ty]

I meant kick them out of P-county! Fairplay: How are mom and dad going to find them good role models when they are in jail or smoking crack?

[steve]

It's time for public executions, and teens in middle and junior/and high school should be required to watch. I am tired of all this crap and the bleedinf hearts that keep leting these sumbags back on the street. CLEAN THE GENE POOL

[steve]

It's time for public executions, and teens in middle and junior/and high school should be required to watch. I am tired of all this crap and the bleedinf hearts that keep leting these sumbags back on the street. CLEAN THE GENE POOL

[whyman]

It is black culture that needs to change. The parents are the same age as me and I saw this manifest itself in high school . The sense of entitlement, the safety net of the race card. Not taking responsibility because they are minorities. The-- I can do what ever I want and you and I know that you can't say anything because you will be labeled a racist and possibly lose your job or get sued. Keep it dumbed down, thug life + street cred=no chance of decent job so I gotta keep it real and steal.

[sickofloridatrash]

Moral of the story. Don't drive through black neighborhoods. Sorry, truth hurts.

[Paul]

Of course the parents have to assume some responsibility but
let's tell it like it is.

These are nothing but low life punks who have no respect for
themselves or others, and are
going nowhere now, or in the future.

Maybe it is better to catch them now when they are young.

These are the dangerous criminals of the future who will do more harm.

Let's hope that some liberal judge does not give them
a big break.

Stop them now.

[LadyG]

whyman, It's not just the "black culture" that needs to change. It's society as a whole. I know you may find this hard to believe but whites get in just as much trouble.

[Amel]

@sickofloridatrash Looks like this was on the north side hun.

[sickofloridatrash]

Looks like operations have expanded......hun.

[joyce]

You can't ALWAYS blame the parents ... I come from a middle class family ... single mom(w/4 kids)We have 2 masters degrees, 1 business professional and 1 serving a nearly lifelong sentence. My mom was great, my sibling is a POS(piece of @#$%^$)! Sometimes they are what they are and you can't change a POS into a good person!

[Smplyred]

What you folks fail to realize is the justice system lets them "back on the street" because they aren't making any money; you know taking money from the city and the state...that tax free drug money. The police in St. Petersburg spend much of their time locking up people driving on a suspsended license or who sell drugs. A young man or thug as you all love to call them can be sent to prison for life for selling narcotics but can go to prison and be out before his baby is in high school for murdering someone. Those are the facts folks.
Why should they get jobs? People look at the color of their skin and assume they are trash so this is what their parents instill in them and many of their parents before them. Unfortunate but true. Folks carry on about St. Pete but these boys aren't even from South St. Pete where idiots cry don't drive down our streets...Lord knows I certainly hope you don't. We don't need the likes of you there any more than the trash that makes our city look bad.

[matt goldman]

So young to be so dangerous and stupid. Kudos to the cops for quickly catching them. Glad the couple is safe. FYI the area in which the carjacking occurred is def not "ghetto" or even semi-ghetto; if anything, probably a high percentage of NRA members in that 'hood. They (the thugs) are lucky they weren't shot.

[Smplyred]

to sickofflorida..operations haven't 'expanded'...these things have been happening for a long time..just never reported as much. The TIMES is good for sensationalizing an issue that gets folks like you up in arms and ready to blow the head off of anything darker than yourself.
Like the reporting of the kid shot at the rec center in Child's Park, story said a few streets over where 4 yr old Paris was shot...uh...that is NOT a few streets over and totally different neighborhoods and completely unrelated.
But..it sells papers and gets folks like you to draw a line in the sand when the same sort of people are standing behind that line right next to you..it's just not reported.

[GodofPinellas]

Florida is to blame. No parents, no children, nobody but the state of florida. This is not america here. This is a third world country. Please compare the two and you will see. Example. Hiring experienced carpenter 5+ years experience 8.00 an hour. WOW
You people should be ashamed. Anything your not willing to do yourself should be 12.00 an hour. think about it. I bet you wish there was still some sort of slavery. Florida will crash and everyone here will pay the price.

[GodofPinellas]

tick tock tick tock tick tock

[GodofPinellas]

florida is to blame no parents no kids think about it this plase is as close to a third world country as you can get in america. Example- Needed carpenter with at least 10 yrs experience starting 8.00 hr. WOW floridians are crooks all of them

[Paul]

GODO,

If you blame Florida, MOVE.

I am a Floridian and have traveled quite a
bit, and am presently visiting in the South West. (New Mexico).

They have the same problems here
and elsewhere.

Maybe those who blame Florida should get out and try to find a better and safer place to live.

When you find a place that offers more than Florida, move there and let me know where it is.

I haven't found that place yet, nor will you.

[GodofPinellas]

paul you obviously have money and a job. Shut up this doesnt apply to you.Go to indiana They pay the same worker 21.00 an hour where can you get that in the state of florida?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? nowhere

[GodofPinellas]

i blame you

[Senator]

I am getting tired of seeing articles like this and when I see the photos I AM NOT SURPRISED! I am not a raciest but I cannot help by predicting this way. Someone said earlier that white people commit just as many crimes as blacks. But whites represent 76% of the U.S. populations. Shouldn’t this mean that whites commit more than triple the crimes as minorities? I don’t think so. The minorities make up 24% of the population but they commit more than half the violent crimes. I honestly don’t know how you fix this problem but everyday it gets worse. If minorities want more respect and equal treatment then they better work on fixing their own families first.

[Bobbert]

I wonder how they came to choose this particular car to hijack? How did they know the occupants would be carrying money?
A drug deal maybe??????

[Senator]

On a side note: GodofPinellas is an idiot and obviously uneducated.

[Susan]

GodofPinellas you're an idiot! Have you ever been to India? I have and let me tell you it is horrible over here. I know how much my company pays for workers in India, its $5000.00 American dollars a YEAR not $21.00 an hour. Sounds to me like you have no idea what you are talking about! Do us all a favor and leave Florida!

[Proud Dad]

You can find jobs that pay a reasonable wage in Florida if you have the skills and education employers want. In the past there was a group of people who were hated, tortured and killed by the Government of Germany along with many others. The way they overcame was by promoting education and community service through each new generation, instead of complaining about the victimization they experienced. They promote one another's business and take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their family members. Excuses for criminal activities and poor performance in school will keep any race in perpetual poverty. Take responsibility for yourself and your children and the problems will begin to subside; then you will feel a real sense of pride! Bill Cosby delivered a positive message and a plan and he was laughed at by the people who needed it most!

[jeb]

Susan, since when is "indiana" in India??? Goofball

[Smplyred]

Thank you proud dad but you are preaching to the choir. What sickens me is being generalized as if every black person is the same way.

I understand where Cosby was coming from however, white america could more easily relate to Cosby and "his show"; and the same for many who post here. Personally it is all in "how you say it". Cosby came across no better than some white guy who has never been raised by a sorry good for nothing woman, no strong male role models....The "thugs" people are always carrying on about have no notion nor idea what its like to even live the way the "Cosby's" lived and most likely don't personally even know anyone else who lived that way.

It is so easy for someone to give people a solution and a fix but unless you are living in it each and every day, unless you see the kinds of parents these children have you will NEVER know what their world is like. You call them animals but do you have any idea the life they've been exposed to from the moment they came into this world? I'm not making excuses what I am saying is, don't always be so quick to see the solution and know what it is "those people" should do to make themselves better and be more acceptable to the rest of you unless you are living their lives, walking in their shoes and have first hand knowledge of what it is like to exist and/or try to survive in their world.

You say to black people stand up and take control of your community but unfortunately, the many who rise above and stay behind are no better at finding a solution. They are more about making a name for themselves, making more money to be accepted by your kind and looking down their noses at those who need only someone positive to look up to. And why because many of those who have made it don't want people like you to think less of them.
It is all a vicious cycle.

[Susan]

My bad jeb! I misread his statement!

[gigi]

And here we go playing the "WHERE IS THE PARENTS" CARD

Today's teens are in a very difficult situation. Our government and lawmakers have created a pandor's box by taking prayer out of our schools. Our children have no respect for authority; when you take away the highest authority (whom ever they may worship). A trickel down affect has been happening for the past 15-20 years. You can not blame the parents all of the time. More often than not, the parents have no control over their teens. Children are taught in school and by public service announcements that if your parents spank or disciple your children harshly (which sometimes they need it that way to get their attention) then call 911. Even when it is not a harsh spanking, parents get prosecuted and persecuted for the act. I am not talking about abusive situations here, just necessary discipline. I know that all parents do not believe in spanking, and this can be ok as well, but as a mother of 6, I can not really see a parent never spanking a child.
The youth of today are to be pitied in a way, our government has put them in a situation that is detrimental to their wellbeing. They have no direction in most cases and have no one to make a real impression on them to fly straight. I am in no way saying that the behavior above is ok nor am I excusing their aweful behavior; but it is very obvious that youth of our society as a whole have much more dificult situations in their lives today than we did 20 years ago. BRING PRAYER BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS, OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR SOCIETY as a whole and this country can possibly recover it's favor with GOD. God bless our children with wise authorities.

[marks34668]

how can we blame the parents when 30 years ago the couirt systems of our contry took away the rights of parents to parent thier children. Parents no longer have a right to spank or discipline thier own children. I said spank, not beat. On the first day of school my own child came home from kindergarden 18 years ago and proudly informed his mother and I we were not allowed to spank him ever because that was child abuse. Children no longer fear thier parents, no longer espect thier parentsand have no respect for anybody else. The are entitled to everything for free and if they don't get it they will steal it.
Every American citizen should be required to spend 3 years in the service. They'll learn discipline, respect and how to work. They might as well defend thier country, they already are collecting the money from every free hand out my tax dollars pay for.

[gigi]

AMEN mark

[Proud Dad]

Smplyred, I was not referring to the Cosby show, but the speech Bill made over a year ago about personal accountability, proper parenting and taking responsibility for one's life.

I was not raised with a silver spoon. I was raised in an environment I was not proud of, in the middle of an unsafe neighborhood, by a single mom who could not afford to support her children. She always showed her love.

My motivation is to sheild my children from growing up the way I did. They are respectful because I don't give them a choice! They get good grades because I turn the TV off and reveiw their work every night. They will all attend college, probably through scholarships. I am changing the cycle in my family and it has not been easy. I am a middle aged college student myself and I won't stop until I complete a degree. I never said it would be easy, but living your life in a poverty stricken, crime ridden environment and watching your children consistently fail because you refuse to teach them to be self sufficient is much more difficult.

[Paul]

Godo,

I don't want to enter into a battle of wits with someone who doesn't have any
ammunition.

I am retired and have worked since I was 13 years old. I am not rich.

Have you checked the unemployment rate in Indiana lately?
$21.00 an hour?

Why aren't you there.

[memaw]

You know, this whole thing about "not understanding" the black kid's lives reminds me of a proudly worn t-shirt with the saying "It's a BLACK thing - - you wouldn't understand" about 20 years ago.

Y'all scream for equality but then the rules (and laws) are supposed to be different for different ethnic groups. Equality is equality. Right is right and wrong is wrong. No matter what color a person's skin is.

I went to Dixie Hollins during the racial riots and made every attempt to not be tainted by what I saw (12-15 blacks beating up and stabbing a pregnant white girl for walking down the hallway by herself) but these days I find myself taking a wider girth when finding myself around young black man (???) holding up their pants with one hand and scratching themselves - or just holding themselves - with the other.

If that makes me a racist in anyone eyes, so be it. It is the way that I have to live to remain as safe as I can.

Oh yea, HERE's a solution. Vote in Deveron Gibbons for Mayor who is getting most of his campaign money from out of town and out of state backers. That would be a very scary choice for Mayor. You think its bad now? Just wait.

[florida]

They boys were just mad because Kentucky Fried Chicken wouldn't redeem their freebie coupons.

[Smplyred]

Sharon I am so sorry for you that because of one incident in your life now every black man to you is a killer. Say what you want but being tainted is written all over every post you make. You let that determine how you feel about an entire race, yet no one wants blacks to look at whites as slave owners the rest of their days. Think about it. People come from different backgrounds, places, etc and that in turn molds you into the person you will be. Not sure how it's wrong to say you wouldn't understand when the things you've been exposed to are different from others. I specifically said it's not an excuse but it is a reason. I knew I'd be attacked for that one because it's easier to down me than say something decent because you allowed one negative experience to determine how you feel about them all.
Proud dad, I know what you meant about Cosby and his long drawn out dissertation about the youth and their pants but he gave that speech to a room full of people that don't behave that way and don't live that way. So his speech - WORTHLESS because he's giving it to educated people and in places where the ones who need to hear it aren't present. Cosby's life is a lot like his show was what I meant. Sorry but even though my parents pushed education, gave us rules and guidelines by which to live by even I could not relate to how that family lived and I did not know anyone who lived that way -I've never been arrested or been in any sort of trouble and keep my pants where they belong. Cosby's audience was not appropriate for the topic he was preaching.

Oh and Sharon, despite popular belief educated black folks will vote for the person that can do the job not the person who closely matches our skin color. Contrary to what white-America-against-Obama thinks, not all blacks voted for Obama simply because he is black. As far as I can see, Gibbons appears to me thus far like those who crawl out on our backs then look down his nose as those beneath him instead of helping come up with real solutions - at least that's what I've seen thus far. I wonder if your bringing up Gibbons in this discussion is about Gibbons the man or Gibbons the black man since we've confirmed you feel they are all killers. Oh and I'll be sure to ask my mother about your riot story since she attended that school.

[TFA]

SIMPLE ANSWER.... IT'S A SHAME THAT THESE 3 DID NOT RESIST L.E.... I CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT THEY WOULD. THEY WOULD BE SHOT DEAD BY POLICE AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO WASTE TAX PAYERS MONEY ON THEM IN JAIL. THERE IS ONLY 1 PLACE FOR THEM.... 6 FEET UNDER. DEAD.

[Smplyred]

OH LORD...another tax whiner. People have been paying taxes for like what...FOREVER...get over it. I swear people think they are the ONLY ONE paying taxes. So what you don't like what your taxes are used for then don't pay them...be like the guys in this story and find other means. :)

[Smplyred]

Sugar were you referring to the Dixie Hollins riots in the 70's? Can't find anything on the black guys stabbing the pregnant white girl (such a li..I mean story is sensational and can make anyone hate blacks though couldn't it?)

You neglected to mention the white parents circling the school using the n word threatening the black students who were outnumbered 14-1 over your own student council voting to no longer use the Rebel flag as its unofficial banner. (Council of 9 -only 4 of which were black). You missed mentioning the black girl that was set on fire by whites in a hallway too. There was throwing of things on both sides yes.

The racial strife is the same as it has always been; two sides that refuse to agree or compromise.

[Kaos]

Awwwwww can't they just leave the po lil black kids alone,
they was jus haven fun,- goin fer lil joyride, .....yea that's it,
....... a "joyride"

[Bob]

They will be out of jail and jacking another car before these 2 victims get their own car back. Watch and see.

[charles]

Really wish they'd put pink bunny ears on wanna be thugs for mug shots so they don't feel tough..Doing someone like they did at their age I'm pretty sure they've made up their life choice: crime. Kids of all races commit atrocious crimes like those white kids who raped their fellow student in the locker room, who I hope from now on will be made fun of(from any standpoint raping someone with a broom is homosexual)

[memaw]

SmplyRED?? Re: Dixie Riots:

I was there. You were not. I'm only stating what I saw first hand. The entire school was on lock down and the young girl ran to our classroom beating on the door for someone to let her in and to help her after being stabbed.

I'm not going on heresay or on someone else's accounting of what happened during those three days. I saw what I saw. I heard what I heard. You cannot diminish that.

I was there. You were not. I felt that was worth repeating.

Now I wash my hands of you and this conversation.

[cesspool]

Armed? At that age? I really hope someone gets to each of them with a shank in the eyes while they're behind bars. Another Uboohooz success story here. On 2nd thought, can't blame them, they're real busy spending ACORN stimulus money now, can't be bothered with lowlife black trash. Guess the black community is running out of excuses, too.

[Bob]

gigi - yep - bring back prayer. It has made the muslim population and the middle east so peaceful. Yep - God and religion is the answer.

[nickatdabeach]

Pretty soon the white community is going to have had enough of this crap, just make it open season on black thugs, with or without adjudication. Charles Bronson had it right in those vigilante movies.

[Grannyinfla]

hEY SICKOFFLORIDA TRASH. THAT ISNT A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE BLACKS THERE, IT ISNT THE HOOD. HOW LONG YOU LIVED HERE ANYWAY, YOU DONT KNOW WHERE THE HOOD IS? SOMEONE TELL THIS SICKO WHERE THE HOOD IS SO HE CAN AVOID GETTING HIS A55 KICKED, OK.

[Grannyinfla]

to sickofflorida..operations haven't 'expanded'...these things have been happening for a long time..just never reported as much. The TIMES is good for sensationalizing an issue that gets folks like you up in arms and ready to blow the head off of anything darker than yourself.
Like the reporting of the kid shot at the rec center in Child's Park, story said a few streets over where 4 yr old Paris was shot...uh...that is NOT a few streets over and totally different neighborhoods and completely unrelated.
But..it sells papers and gets folks like you to draw a line in the sand when the same sort of people are standing behind that line right next to you..it's just not reported.

Excuse me but you dont find what happened "sensational"? You must be from the hood. Even the kids I know from the hood find this crap sensational. You dont see the correlation between the Childs Park rec shooting and little Paris? ITS STREET GANGS!!! Come on. And its damned sensational. This was margaritaville people and now its the fkn Wild west. And I'm getting a dam gun. Thugs better back away from me. Simplyred - look deeper. These things are most definately related. Street Thugs Must Go!!! to prison that is.

[Victim2005]

To Mr. Bobbert

I am a hard working law abiding citizen. I am NOT a drug dealer nor have I EVER been!!!!! I work for a well known SAT company. I bust my a$* everyday to get the stuff I want. Yes my car was hooked up with rims and things but I paid for all of it with hard earn money. I served over 12 yrs in the military to come back home to Florida and have this happened to me and my girl. And to read a stupid a$* comment you wrote about it being originated from a drug deal is very OFFENDING to me. thanks for the salt in the wound.

Thanks to you all for the love and support. I hope none of you have to go through what we went through.

[FoSho!!!]

Mae god bless dees misundurstood por boyz soles

[colorchanger]

No doubt these tough guys are crying like little girls, wa wa wa!!

[MsMincey01]

1st I am NOT even goin to read ANy futher. YOu people could NOT be ANy more WRONG than a Blind man trying to teach women how to put on make up. Race has nothing to do with it, speaking as someone that personally knew the mother of one of the boys in these sad but very real situtaion we face in todays times. The mother I know, works hard and faithfully for a corporate 500 company, takes cares of her children, provides shelter, love, takes her children on family outings and does this ALL as a single parent. People forget as parents we can only do so much, at a certain point in their life
OUR child(ren) will begin to make decessions on their on own. No matter how hard we struggle or think we are just reaching them, they will dissappoint us. Maybe not to this degree, but none the less as PARENTS we have to know WE CAN NOT CONTROL EVERYTHING, because if we could ..this world would be perfect. Lets just pray that everyone learns from this and love your children .

[anal_aggression]

WELL FORGET WHAT EVERY ONE ELSE IS SAYING I DONT THINK THEY SHOULD BE DEAD I THINK IF THEY WERE RAISED RIGHT THAT IT WOULDNT BE LKE THIS AND IM SAYING THIS BEACAUSE I PERSONALLY KNOW ROBERT AND I NOW THE SITUATION THAT HE WAS IN AND I FEEL LIKE HIS MOM WAS NO HELP TO HIS SITUATION WHICH IS WHY HE IS IN THE PREDICTAMENT HE IS IN SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING YES I DO BLAME KIMBERLY BASSETT FOR ROBERTS SITUATION AND FOR THOSE WHO WISH HIM DEAD I DONT THINK NOBODY SHOULD WISH DEATH ON NOBODY CAUSE THINK ABOUT IT WHAT IF THAT WAS YOUR SON AND HE WAS JUS AT THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME I BET YOU WOULDNT SAY ALL THAT STUFF THEN BUT IM NOT GIVING ROBERT AN EXCUSE FOR WAT HE DID BECAUSE HE DOES KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG YET I FEEL HE HAD NO OTHER WAY TO TURN