Citizen Staff Writer
LAW AND ORDER REPORT
SHERYL KORNMAN
skornman@tucsoncitizen.com
Tucson police have arrested three of four suspects in five recent armed robberies targeting taxi drivers.
The fourth suspect’s identity is known and police are seeking to arrest him.
Sgt. Fabian Pacheco said none of the cab drivers was harmed.
Two of the robberies and one attempted robbery took place Wednesday.
Police believe three of the suspects also were involved in a residential break-in and robbery Sept. 25. In that incident, the men forced a juvenile to the floor and held him at gunpoint while they stole his wallet, a laptop computer and other property. The juvenile was not physically injured.
Police said that on Sept. 26, three men whose faces were covered with bandannas robbed a cab driver in the 1600 block of North Camilla Boulevard.
On Sept. 28, two men with handguns robbed a cab driver in that same block, police said.
And on Sept. 29, another cabbie said he was robbed by two men at 2401 E. Glenn St. In that incident, one man had a knife and the other had a handgun.
On Wednesday, two midtown robberies and an unsuccessful robbery targeted cab drivers, Pacheco said.
In the third incident, in the 3200 block of East Willard Street, the driver – who knew of the previous robberies – sped away when he was confronted by two men armed with handguns.
Joseph J. Cotton, 19, of the 700 block of East Limberlost Road, and Mazi L. Griffith, 30, of Tucson. are charged with seven counts of armed robbery, seven counts of aggravated robbery and five counts of aggravated assault. Cotton is being held on $100,000 bail in the Pima County Jail and Griffith is being held on $75,000 bail.
Miea D. Stoutamire, 27, of Tucson, is being held on $75,000 bail on three counts each of armed robbery and aggravated robbery.