Arrest Made in 'Hot Coffee' Convenience Store Robbery

ST. PETERSBURG - A 43-year-old Bradenton man has been arrested in connection to a pair of convenience store robberies that include the Kwick Stop, at 1st Street North, near the Publix Shopping Center.

Charles Davis Custer faces multiple charges, including armed robbery, and is being held in the Pinellas County Jail. Custer is accused of throwing hot coffee on the convenience store clerk, brandishing a knife and grabbing cash from the register drawer. He was assisted by a second suspect.

Custer was identified after police publicized videos from store security cameras from the two robberies involving the same suspects. The second robbery took place at the Sunoco/Circle K store, 11600 U.S. Highway 19, in Pinellas Park.

On Dec. 28, 2010, two suspects entered the Kwick Stop convenience store, at
100 40th Avenue North. One suspect, later identified as Charles Custer, retrieved a hot cup of coffee and then approached the clerk, throwing the coffee on him.

Police say he brandished a knife and grabbed the clerk, demanding that he open the drawer to the cash register. The clerk complied and the suspect removed the cash from the register drawer.

Custer was accompanied by an unidentified suspect, who assisted in the robbery, and both left the store taking a four pack of beer with them as well. Later that evening, at about 11:30 p.m., the same two suspects struck the Sunoco/Circle K in Pinellas Park, committing a similar holdup.

The second unidentified suspect was described as a middle-aged black male, weating a dark knit cap, olive colored jacket and dark pants.

Based on media coverage of the two robberies, a tip was received identifying Custer as one of the suspects. He was arrested at his home in Bradenton on Jan. 14, on one count of robbery from the case in Pinellas Park.

He has subsequently been charged with one count of aggravated battery in that
case, as well and an additional count of armed robbery in the St. Petersburg case. He is currently in the Pinellas County Jail on $110, 000 bond.

Police still need to identify the second suspect, and both the St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park Police are asking for the public's assistance in the case. Call the St. Petersburg Police Department, at 727-893-7780, or the Tip Line, at 727-892-5000 or Text a Tip at 727-420-8911.