Man accused of robbery no stranger to Local 10 News investigation

Jeff Weinsier previously reported on Mitchell family alleged parking lot scam

MIAMI – A South Florida woman said she was threatened, robbed and held against her will while forced to withdraw money from an ATM.

Miami police arrested Larry Mitchell, 30, on two counts of kidnapping and strong-armed robbery.

Mitchell, who also goes by the name Santino Mitchell, is someone who is familiar to Local 10 News investigative reporter Jeff Weinsier. Weinsier first reported on the Mitchell family's alleged parking lot scam in 2012 and 2013.

Even though Mitchell is being held without bond, the latest victim said she fears for her life and asked not to be identified.

She said she was approached by Mitchell and an unidentified accomplice in a parking lot, and they told her they they could fix a dent on her Mazda for $100.

After pulling out the dent and painting her fender, she claims Mitchell demanded $700.

"I was very scared. They told me if I didn't give them the money I was in big trouble," she said.

The victim claims she was forced to go to a Walgreens and withdraw money from her bank account. She said Mitchell was pulling money out of her hands at the ATM and told her he had her son outside and if he's not paid, he would do something to her son.

Mitchell left with $560 and was later identified and arrested, the woman said.

This is not the first Local 10 report of a Mitchell brother.

Weinsier reported last year that he caught Anthony Mitchell doing the same thing. Anthony Mitchell was approaching people in a parking lot and offering to fix their cars at a fraction of the price.

The Mitchells tell victims they work for car dealerships and have special products, but they usually use nothing more than show polish or rubbing compound, police said.

Weinsier has a pending battery case against Anthony Mitchell in Broward County court. Mitchell grabbed Weinsier by the neck when he approached him in December 2013, according to the charges.

Follow Jeff Weinsier on Twitter @jweinsier

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