Cops: Food Delivery Men Targeted in Armed Robberies

A man who was allegedly targeting delivery men from local restaurants is charged with three counts of armed robbery, Clearwater Police said Wednesday.

Troy Richardson, 27, was taken into custody at the Diana Motel after a police K-9 unit tracked him there July 1 following one of the recent robberies.

In one case, on the night of June 30, a driver from Jets Pizza arrived at a residence in the 500 block of Brookside Drive to deliver a pizza when he saw Richardson standing in the driveway, police said.

The delivery man approached Richardson, who said he was waiting for his girlfriend to bring money for the pizza. When the man said he would make another delivery and return in five minutes, police say Richardson pulled out a gun and pressed it into the victim's chest, demanding his money and cell phone. The delivery man handed them over, got into his car and left.

In the second robbery the next day, Richardson allegedly placed a food order from Hong Kong City Restaurant. When a driver showed up with the food outside a set of vacant apartments in the 300 block of South Mars Avenue, Richardson showed a gun and demanded money, according to police.

"The victim refused to comply and was struck in the head with the gun," police spokesperson Rob Shaw said in a media release.

During the police investigation, a third victim also came forward alleging an armed robbery and Richardson has been charged in that one as well.

Richardson has multiple arrests on his record, including two earlier this year on charges including domestic felony battery and false imprisonment, records show.

Richardson was booked into the Pinellas County Jail, where he is being held on $180,013 bond.