Shoot-out suspect charged in robberies

Sarasota police have charged the man who got into a shoot-out with sheriff’s deputies with robbing adult-video stores five times.

From July 16 to Aug. 18, Harry Bell, 30, allegedly robbed The X-Factor, at 1940 12th St., three times and XTC Super Center, at 2092 17th St., two times.

The day after the two Aug. 18 robberies, Bell was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run incident in Osprey. Deputies tracked him down at the intersection of Beneva Road and Clark Road.

Detectives said he refused to comply with deputies’ commands and then pulled a gun on them, prompting the shoot-out. Bell was wounded and hospitalized but has since recovered.

During two Aug. 18 robberies, the suspect wore a caveman-type mask and gloves and carried a black semi-automatic handgun.

After the shootout, deputies recovered a caveman mask, gloves and a black semi-automatic handgun from the pickup Bell was driving.

Detectives also obtained a surveillance tape from a party store that shows Bell buying a caveman mask two days before the robberies.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Det. Michael Jackson at the Sarasota Police Department at 954-7096.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].