2 of 4 held in paint gun robbery identified (fake assault rifle)

The Miami Herald ^ | Mon, Jan. 07, 2008 | ADAM H. BEASLEY

[nin_kasi]

The four masked men who terrorized South Florida Monday morning with knives, a handgun and a paint ball gun modified to looked like an assault weapon are anonymous no longer.

Police have charged Hollywood men Jonathan Cognet, 20, and Daniel Stephan Tulloch, 19 -- as well as two Broward County 17-year-olds -- with a string of robberies, including that of three students on their way to school.

A Hollywood police officer on motorcycle pulled over the gold Toyota used in the heists at U.S. 441 and Seminole Way at about 7 a.m., directly in front of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino complex.

Inside, they found the suspects, along with an assortment of weapons and booty.

Here's how authorities said it happened:

Two robbers jumped out of the Toyota armed with both a firearm and a knife and accosted two 14-year-old male students as they were walking northbound on North 56th Ave. to Hollywood Hills High.

''Fortunately, nobody was injured,'' said Sgt. Manny Marino, a spokesman for the Hollywood Police Department. ``They are shaken up. They're cooperating with detectives and they are with their families.''

Moments later, a 15-year-old boy had a similar experience, with the foursome taking his backpack, jacket and $7 on Southwest 40th Avenue, south of Stirling Road.

These robberies occurred roughly two hours after a woman in her 20s was robbed on 177th Avenue in Miami Gardens. Police found evidence in the car linking the men to that crime, Marino said.

Keith Bromery, a spokesman for Broward County schools, said that any time students are targeted on the way to school, it is a concern. If this sort of crime continues around the high school, the district will ask police to give additional focus to the area.

[PeteB570]

I can see it now - The four of them riding around in the car and “Hey, this sounds like a good idea.”

Wrong - Boneheads.

Book ‘um Dano.