Armed robber sends police on chase

PENSACOLA, Fla. - An armed robbery suspect accused of hitting 2 convenience stores led deputies on a high speed chase early Friday morning in West Pensacola.

Convenience store clerks thought it was just a customer hanging outside, until deputies say he went inside with a gun. He first hit the Circle K at Nine Mile and Pine Forest roads.

Sergeant Ted Roy said, "He entered the store and pointed a handgun at the clerk in the bathroom cleaning, and demanded money. Brought him back to the front gave him money and lottery tickets."

Deputies say he didn't stop there. The suspect went to another Circle K and pressed a gun against the employees back. Deputies soon spotted a car speeding near Pine Forest High School. When the car wouldn't pull over and deputies realized the driver matched the description of the suspect, they attemped to pull him over.

Roy said, "It was a forcible felony involving firearm, we were going to pursue him until the wheels came off, he wrecked out. It probably would have escalated since he had a weapon. We weren't going to let him get away."

Deputies say the suspect weaved in and out of residential neighborhoods, putting people in danger. They caught him when he stopped at Nine Mile Road and Airway Drive.

The suspect, 19-year-old Juan Anthony Matos, is now in the Escambia County Jail, being held on $156,000 bail.