HOUSTON — A parolee accused of robbing a 67-year-old Houston lawn worker faced a judge Tuesday morning. She set bond for Jerell Alexander at $50,000 on an aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon charge.
An injury caused when the victim whacked Alexander with his weed trimmer was still visible on Alexander's face.
Prosecutors asked for a higher bond because Alexander is on parole for a 2019 robbery with bodily injury conviction. He also cited an increase in crimes that target landscapers who are just trying to earn a living.
“It’s a huge problem in our community. I know I’ve prosecuted similar aggravated robberies involving similar to the complaint here that were doing yard work," Assistant District Attorney Mitchell Sanchez said,
Lawn worker uses weed trimmer to fight back
Video shows the victim trimming a lawn Saturday afternoon on Renmark Lane near Cypresswood Drive.
According to Precinct 4, he spotted some men stealing equipment from his truck parked a few houses down.
As the suspects drove past him, they tried to hit the victim with their car, Precinct 4 said. That's when he threw his weed whacker at their windshield.
The victim then chased after the car but stopped when the driver pointed a gun at him.
One passenger, later identified as Alexander, fell out and landed in the street as the car drove off. He tried to stand up but kept falling back down as the victim threatened him with the weed trimmer.
"He was trying to protect his property and in the course of it did what his instincts told him to do," Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said.
The injured guy finally ran off and got back into the red, four-door Nissan Ultima.
"Come on, Jerell!" someone in the vehicle yelled.
Alexander was later located at a local hospital where he was being treated for minor injuries," Herman said.
"Help! Help!"
A neighbor heard the commotion and called 911.
"Help! Help!" he yelled. "Stay on the floor, stay on the floor!"
Neighbor Edita Minaya told us the victim also does her lawn.
"He's trying to defend his property, which is OK because that's what he makes his money out of," Minaya told us.
She hopes the other suspects are caught soon.
"I mean, you can't go around robbing people's stuff," Minaya said.
Herman's office released surveillance photos of the other accused robbers.
They said a second dark-colored vehicle may also have been involved.
If you recognize them or have any other information about this crime, call Precinct 4 at 281-376-3472.
