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Highlands Today

AP Man Arrested In Connection With Five Robberies

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Brad Dickerson

Published: February 9, 2009

Updated: 02/09/2009 02:25 pm

An Avon Park man remained in Highlands County jail Monday under no bond following his weekend arrest in connection with five robberies in Highlands and Polk counties.

William Costoso, 32, of 237 W. Shoreline Drive, Avon Park, has been charged with robbery in two Kangaroo Express convenience store incidents in Lake Wales.

He is also charged in each of the three Avon Park robberies at a local Winn-Dixie, the A-1 Discount Beverage store and when the manager of Highlands Apartments complex was robbed, according to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) and the Avon Park Police Department.

The Avon Park Police Department has also charged Costoso with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and burglary of an occupied structure while unarmed.

The Kangaroo Express robberies occurred on Jan. 18 and Feb. 2. The first incident came eight days after the suspect was released from prison after serving a two-year sentence for robbery, according to authorities. Costoso had been charged with a 2007 Frostproof robbery.

The Winn-Dixie robbery occurred on Jan. 31, while the A-1 Discount Beverage incident happened Feb. 4. The park manager was held up Feb. 5.

Manager Ankit Desai was working at A-1 Discount on Feb. 4. He was taking out the garbage around 7 p.m., when the suspect came up behind him.

"When I opened the door, he just pushed me inside," Desai said. "He said, 'Give me money,' and I said, 'Are you joking?'"

Desai said he obeyed the suspect's demand and gave him about $200 that was inside the register. There was no indication the perpetrator had a weapon.

"He didn't show me anything," Desai said. "He said, 'Stay behind the counter and don't do anything.'"

In Polk County, detectives were able to take a partial tag number given by witnesses, and identify the vehicle used in the robberies, according to the PCSO. It was a Chevrolet Lumina that was registered to Costoso's girlfriend, Luz Hernandez Otero, of Avon Park, who was not connected to the crimes and has not been charged.

The suspect was arrested when he arrived back home at 5 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 6.

Both Costoso and Otero gave APPD officers consent to search the residence and the vehicle. Clothing, shoes, a baseball cap and sunglasses used in the Kangaroo Express robberies were reportedly found.

Police also allegedly found a glass pipe with cocaine residue in Costoso's front jacket pocket. The suspect reportedly admitted he used the Chevy Lumina, without his girlfriend's knowledge, in both the Polk County robberies, according to the PCSO.

He also reportedly admitted he committed the three robberies in Highlands County. Costoso told police the robberies went to support a crack cocaine habit.

Desai said since the incident at his store, his wife has been coming in each night around 6:30 to help him close.

"I learned from him that you need two people at nighttime," Desai said.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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