Man arrested for stealing cigarettes during Walgreens robbery in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. – A man was arrested after he threatened a cashier with a gun, jumped over the counter and stole cigarettes from a Walgreens store in Tampa.

Malcolm Green, 28, entered the store at 12211 West Hillsborough Avenue just before 1 p.m. Friday. He walked up to the clerk, lifted up his shirt, took out a large plastic bag and showed the victim a gun. Green told her to stay calm and not move while he stole several packs of cigarettes, a news release said.

He then left the area in a gray Toyota Camry. Hillsborough County detectives located the vehicle at the Family Dollar at 10404 North Nebraska Ave.

Green attempted to elude officers and Tampa police by driving over a parking curb, but he struck a car and a pillar in front of the store and got stuck. He was arrested and is now charged with robbery with possession of a weapon, according to officers.

“Despite the suspect’s brazen actions and reckless endangerment of our community during his crime spree, he was no match for the HCSO team,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Together with ATF and Tampa Police, we were able to arrest this man. He will now face accountability for his actions and face the consequences of the danger he posed to our residents.”

Investigators also learned that Green had a federal arrest warrant and was on probation for weapons possession.