An 18-year-old Plant City man has been arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force for a crime spree spanning three counties.
Gregory Leon Ragins was captured in Tampa Tuesday, March 10, on North 49th Street.
Ragins is a suspect in a March 6 Polk County shooting and armed robbery, a March 8 Osceola carjacking and an armed robbery in Hillsborough County March 9.
Just before 9 p.m. Friday, March 6, Ragins, entered the Prima Store at Highway 60 and County Line Road inLakeland and made a purchase. Ragins left the store and got into the driver’s side seat of his black car. A witness leaving the store saw that he was holding a handgun. The witness tried to run back into the store, but Raggins shot him in the leg, according to a sheriff’s office report.
Ragins fled east on Highway 60 and pulled into the parking lot of the Hess Gas Station at 4785 State Road 60 W. The passenger in the car, who has not yet been identified, approached a second victim and pointed a small silver handgun at him, demanding money. After the robbery, they fled west on Highway 60.
Ragins was later identified through video surveillance images at the Prima Store.
The Osceola carjacking and Hillsborough County robbery investigations are pending.
At the time of his arrest, Ragins was in possession of a black 2012 Honda Accord, the vehicle that was taken during the carjacking. He also had a silver 32-caliber revolver, which matched the description of the gun used in the Polk County shooting. It was found in his jacket pocket during a search.
He also had a felony amount of marijuana in his pants pocket, and a pistol grip shotgun, several credit cards, which were taken during an armed robbery in Hillsborough County, and cash were located in the stolen car.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and Tampa Police Department worked with the Marshals Fugitive Task Force to locate Ragins. The Tampa Police Department assisted with the arrest.
Ragins’ previous arrest history, all in Hillsborough County, includes two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct, failure to appear in court (2 counts, for the lewd/lascivious conduct charges), robbery/home invasion, failure to appear in court (2 counts), and petit theft.
He has been booked into the Hillsborough County Jail and charged with Attempted Murder by Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Grand Theft Auto, Carry Concealed Firearm, Poss. of Cannabis over 20g, and Poss. of Cannabis w/ Intent to Distribute by the Tampa Police Department.
