Bradenton Man Sentenced to More Than a Decade in Prison for Robbery With Toy Gun
A Bradenton man has been sentenced to more than 10 years in state prison after deputies said he robbed a Lakewood Ranch Popeyes using a toy Nerf gun. Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio handed down the sentence for 41-year-old Antwan Terrell Glover after he entered a no-contest plea to robbery while wearing a mask, according to court records.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 20 at the Popeyes located at 11840 State Road 64 East. Prosecutors said Glover forced two employees to hand over cash after entering the restaurant with what appeared to be a short-barreled shotgun. Deputies later recovered the weapon in a nearby water-filled ditch and determined it was a black and orange Rival Nerf gun wrapped in a grocery bag.
According to the arrest report, the store manager first noticed a man attempting to open the locked doors on Jan. 19 and stepped outside to retrieve his personal firearm. Deputies said the masked suspect emerged from behind a dumpster and pointed the toy weapon at him, with only his eyes visible beneath a black shirt pulled over his face.
A second employee saw the confrontation on surveillance monitors and opened the back door to help. Prosecutors said the suspect forced his way inside, demanded access to the safe, and then ordered the registers to be opened when told the safe could not be unlocked after hours. The employee who attempted to intervene later escaped out the front door while the robbery continued.
Deputies said the suspect left the store with about $100 in cash. A perimeter was established, and deputies detained a man on a bicycle in the nearby Eagle Trace neighborhood who matched the description given at the scene. A K9 track from the restaurant also led to the same area.
Investigators noted that Glover did not provide a credible explanation for being in the neighborhood or for why he was missing his shoes and was wet from the waist down. He was arrested following an interview with deputies. Court records show he received 163 days of credit for time served.