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Deputies arrest man in string of Hillsborough convenience store robberies

 
Deputies have charged 20-year-old Trevor Gipson of Valrico with a string of Hillsborough County convenience store robberies. [Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]
Deputies have charged 20-year-old Trevor Gipson of Valrico with a string of Hillsborough County convenience store robberies. [Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]
Published Feb. 22, 2017

TAMPA — Trevor Gipson had just robbed three Hillsborough convenience stores when deputies stopped him for speeding on Wednesday morning, authorities say.

Then, shortly after the traffic stop, the 20-year-old Valrico man hit yet another store, they said.

Finally, after a short chase 40 minutes later, he was in custody.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office released this time line of events leading up to Gipson's arrest:

Two deputies using radar on North Dale Mabry Highway stopped Gipson in a white Nissan Altima about 2:30 a.m. Deputies smelled marijuana, searched the car and found an unloaded handgun. Gipson said he owned the gun and deputies returned the firearm to him after confirming it was not stolen.

Gipson was cited for speeding and driving with a suspended license without knowledge. Deputies told him to call someone to pick him up. Gipson was still in the parking lot when they left.

Shortly after 3 a.m., Gipson robbed the Circle K at 6211 North Dale Mabry, the Sheriff's Office said. Wearing a black mask, Gipson pointed a pistol at the clerk and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Deputies soon identified Gipson as the suspect. About 3:45 a.m., deputies spotted the Nissan and tried to make a traffic stop. Gipson accelerated and tried to flee, then stopped in the 2800 block of Falling Leaves Driver, the Sheriff's Office said. He got out and surrendered to a police dog team.

In addition to the Circle K robbery, Gipson was charged with robbing two 7-Eleven stores, at 1001 McMullen Road and 16781 Fishhawk Boulevard, at 4:07 and 4:25 on Tuesday morning.

Gipson also robbed a convenience store in Temple Terrace, the Sheriff's Office said. Details on that robbery were not immediately available Wednesday.

In 2012, Gipson was arrested as a juvenile and charged with burglary and criminal mischief in Hillsborough. Details and the outcome of that case were not available.

Times senior news researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Contact Tony Marrero at tmarrero@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3374. Follow @tmarrerotimes.