Spring breakers who foiled robbery describe tense takedown

'It turned out the best way possible for us,' cousins say of melee with gunman

OAKLAND PARK, Fla. – A group of spring breakers who turned the tables on a would-be robber in Oakland Park early Sunday have quite the story to tell. 

It started as a night of fun on South Beach for the cousins who were visiting from Indiana to celebrate a birthday. Alex Wisbey said he was the designated driver to get everyone back to Broward County when he stopped at a Mobil gas station on Oakland Park Boulevard near Powerline Road about 3:45 a.m.

"I tried to find a gas station that was closest because we were running low on gas," Alex Wisbey, a recent of graduate of Ivy Tech Community College in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, told Local 10 News.

But while they were there, a black car pulled up and a masked man approached them. He demanded money, pointing a gun at one of them.

The cousins grabbed the gunman and tackled him to the ground.

"Then my cousin, Jacob, gets on top of him and I'm in there, trying to wrestle around for the gun," Aric Wisbey, a student at Ivy Tech, said.

Detectives said a shirtless accomplice then ran into the melee. 

But Aric Wisbey said his instinct kicked in. He grabbed the gun and pointed it at both men, who got back into the black car and drove away. The whole struggle was recorded by the gas station's security camera.

Deputies said the accomplice didn't get far. Kevin Campbell, 33, was arrested shortly after the foiled robbery, but the masked man remains at large. 

Kevin Campbell is the alleged accomplice in a foiled robbery at an Oakland Park gas station.

The cousins said, if your gut tells you to comply with a criminal's demands, do it.

"But if there is a situation and a moment where you can wrestle the gun away or protect yourself, or your family or friends, absolutely do that," Alex Wisbey said. "Do not second-guess yourself."

Alex and Aric Wisbey said they have concealed weapons permits in Indiana and have experience handling firearms. The cousins said deputies told them they were lucky because the gun was loaded. 

"It turned out the best way possible for us," Aric Wisbey said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.


About the Author:

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.