Sunday Scene

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

Port St. Lucie, Florida

In a spectacular case of poor planning, 2 boys on Wednesday tried to rob 2 people after they walked through the front door of a building apparently unknown to the 2 juveniles. The youths, ages 12 and 14, summarily were taken into custody at gunpoint. It seems that they strolled into the Port St. Lucie police station and attempted to rob to 2 civilian employees at the records counter.

Unfortunately for the boys, there were several officers in a nearby room taking a defensive tactics course, said Officer Robert Vega, Port St. Lucie police spokesman. The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. at the station after the boys strolled in. The 12-year-old sauntered to the records counter and then proceeded to another counter where he picked up a phone to talk to a service aid behind a protective window, demanding her cash.


"Not only did he pick up the phone and say, 'Put your hands up and give me your money,' he had his hand in his jacket insinuating that he had a gun," Vega said. The boys each face an attempted armed robbery charge.

Although only the 12-year-old demanded money, the other boy also is being charged in connection with the incident because he "knew what was going to happen." "He was a willing participant in the entire event," Vega said. The 14-year-old also faces a violation of probation charge.

"They were either very brazen or very dumb, but I think the latter," Vega said.