Man accused of grabbing $22K in gold chains from Treasure Coast Square Mall kiosk arrested

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — The man accused of grabbing an entire display of gold chains from a jewelry kiosk at Treasure Coast Square Mall and fleeing on foot has been arrested — and has already bonded out of jail, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the sheriff’s office, the robbery happened July 20 at the Royal Jewelers kiosk near the mall’s main entrance in Jensen Beach. Investigators say a man approached the counter and asked to see several gold chains, trying some on before handing them back and walking away. He briefly left the mall, then returned and told the employee his girlfriend thought the chains he’d looked at were too expensive, asking to see cheaper options.

When the employee pulled out a new display holding nine to ten gold chains, deputies say the man suddenly grabbed the entire display out of her hands and ran. He fled through the same entrance he’d come in, past a Ruby Tuesday and Port Barna Restaurant, and got into a silver Ford Fusion that was later seen on nearby surveillance video heading south on Federal Highway.

The sheriff’s office says the stolen merchandise was worth more than $22,000. Three of the necklaces were later recovered, two of them found on the ground near the mall’s south exit, leaving six chains valued at roughly $13,000 still missing.

Investigators say a Sheriff’s Office crime scene unit lifted fingerprints and palm prints from the glass display counter where the suspect had been handling the chains, along with DNA from necklaces he tried on and a pair of sunglasses that fell off while he was running. Deputies say those prints matched 25-year-old Dezmone Karlde’ Rome Johnson of Lauderhill.

The sheriff’s office says Johnson already had an open felony warrant out for a probation violation at the time of the robbery. Investigators say he was also spotted the following day at a Broward County pawn shop with a woman who may have pawned one of the stolen chains. An arrest warrant was approved and filed in the Martin County case, and Johnson was taken into custody July 31 by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. He bonded out of jail August 8.

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It’s not yet clear which agencies were directly involved in tracking Johnson down and making the arrest; CBS12 is working to confirm those details. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office has also said the case could be turned over to Broward County for additional charges related to dealing in stolen property, pending review of the pawn shop surveillance footage.

CBS12 News is speaking with Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek and will provide updates when they become available.