An armed black robber who was forced to flee after dropping his handgun during a scuffle soon returned to try and buy the firearm back off his victims

African-American Cedrick Mitchell, 39, barged into the Royal Motel in Bradenton, Florida around midnight and demanded pills from two men but when they said they didn’t have any he pulled out a gun. Mitchell demanded everything they had, said Bradenton police Capt. Warren Merriman, and a brawl ensued. During the scuffle Mitchell dropped his weapon and was pepper-sprayed by one of his victims before running away. But moments later Mitchell returned begging the two men to let him buy back his gun for $40. They pepper-sprayed him in the face again and he was forced to flee for the second time. The victims called the police who arrested Mitchell after a brief chase and locked him in the Manatee County Jail. Mitchell has a long criminal history, which includes robbery convictions dating back to 2001. In 2005, an undercover police officer was purchasing rock cocaine when Mitchell reached into the officer's front pocket, stole $100, and walked away. He pleaded no contest to a theft charge. He is now being held on no bond, charged with armed home invasion and resisting an officer.