Judge sentences man for robbery attempt of officer

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A judge on Friday sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for attempting to rob an undercover Norfolk police officer as he sat inside his car in a McDonald's parking lot.

The judge sentenced Jordan Ceprece Anderson, 20, previously residing in the 5400 block of Stonehaven Drive, Virginia Beach, to 28 years on one count each of conspiracy, attempted robbery, use of a firearm and wearing a mask in public. Judge Karen Burrell suspended 18 of those years under the condition Anderson remains on indefinite supervised probation, has 10 years good behavior, and has no contact with the co-defendants.

Commonwealth's attorneys proved that on April 23, 2012, officers with the Norfolk Police Department Vice and Narcotics Division were sitting in the driver's seats of separate, unmarked cars in the McDonald's parking lot at the intersection of Indian River and Campostella Roads. The officers saw a suspicious car with several occupants slowly circle through the lot.

A short time later, Anderson walked up from behind to the passenger side of one of the unmarked vehicles while a codefendant, Devonte Davis, walked up from behind to the driver's side of the other unmarked vehicle.

Anderson tapped on the passenger window of the car with a gun, pointed the gun at the officer, and demanded his property. The officer pulled his service weapon and shot through the window several times. The other officer jumped out of his car and saw Davis standing near him. Davis pointed a gun at the officer and said, "Give it up." The officer pointed his gun at Davis, who then cursed and fled. Anderson then fled, too. 

As the two men ran, one of the men looked backwards and lifted his arm with the gun. An officer fired his gun twice.

Other officers detained three of the suspects in a nearby getaway car. Police caught Anderson several hours later when he went to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to his arm. Police recovered a loaded pistol and a bandana in the vicinity where Davis had fled. Police also found an inoperable .32 pistol that had been discarded by Anderson.

Anderson confessed to police after doctors released him from the hospital. The men said they decided to rob the two victims when they had driven through the McDonald's parking lot and had seen the officers' parked cars. The defendants told police they thought the plainclothes officers were private citizen conducting or attempting to conduct a drug transaction. 

Anderson was on probation for a 2011 robbery conviction at the time of the robbery attempt.

Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney  Harvey L. Bryant acted as special prosecutor in the case.