Man robbed a Bradenton CVS with a hatchet, cops say. He says he was out on a ‘spirit walk’

A 29-year-old man is facing an armed robbery charge after entering a Bradenton CVS with a hatchet and walking out with $245 from the register

Bradenton police say Gerrol Vereen walked into the CVS at 4302 Cortez Road around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night wearing blue medical gloves, a sweatsuit over some other clothing and a cloth over his face.

According to the arrest report, Vereen went behind the counter and grabbed the cashier by the shirt, slammed the hatchet on the counter and demanded the victim open the cash register.

The victim complied and Vereen grabbed a stack of $1 bills, police say. Vereen ran out of the store but police caught up to him a short time later as he was running on the sidewalk in the 3600 block of 43rd Street West.

Vereen admitted that he had been running, but claimed he was late for his job at the Taco Bell. He denied that he had committed the robbery, telling police that he was merely out for a “spirit walk.”

Vereen was booked into the Manatee County jail and remains in custody on a $25,000 bond.