July 3, 2009
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

TWO MEN CAPTURED AFTER FAILED HOLDUP
 

A 54-year-old woman was just going about her own business Friday afternoon in a Deltona grocery store parking lot when she was suddenly accosted by a man pointing a gun at her. He demanded her purse, money and car keys, but she instead screamed for help. The suspect jumped back into his vehicle where two other men were waiting and the vehicle then sped away. The woman quickly called 911 and was able to give a good enough description of the vehicle and its direction of travel that Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies soon found it speeding toward Sanford. A pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle rammed into a tree and the three occupants fled on foot. Volusia units along with help from the Sanford Police Department and Seminole County Sheriff’s Office searched the area and found two suspects hiding in a car they had broken in to. A third suspect is still at large. The victim of the attempted robbery was not injured, and no shots were fired.

 

Everything started at about 3 p.m. when Elizabeth Leon parked her car in the Publix shopping center parking lot at 915 Doyle Road. She noticed an SUV pull in right behind her, so she stayed in her car for a moment. When no one got out of the truck, Leon got out of her car. As soon as she did, a man stepped out of the SUV and walked up to her while brandishing a handgun. He demanded her purse and keys, prompting Leon to scream for help. The man then got back into the SUV empty-handed and sped away.

 

Deputy Daniel Shivers waited for the SUV at SR 415 and Reed Ellis Road. Deputy Shivers then saw the suspect vehicle turn onto SR 415 and speed toward Sanford. After permission to pursue was authorized by his supervisor, Shivers followed them. The SUV eventually turned westbound on side street and finally crashed into a tree at the intersection of Celery Avenue and Scott Avenue. All three men then jumped out and ran away. But two men were quickly found when Deputy Thomas Reinhardt put his K9 partner Macho to work. Macho had no trouble tracking the pair to their hiding spot inside a car parked under a local resident’s carport.

 

Jonathan Baker, 21, was identified as the man who had confronted Leon with the gun. The Sanford man was charged with carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and use of a firearm during a felony offense. He was also charged with violation of injunction because he possessed a firearm, which was forbidden in a 2005 injunction for protection.

 

Akeem Holton, 18, from Sanford, was charged with principle to carjacking with a firearm, principle to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and principle to use of a firearm during a felony offense. The SUV used in this crime belongs to Holton’s mother.

 

Both men were transported to the Seminole County Branch Jail (not the Volusia County Branch Jail). The investigation is ongoing as deputies work to identify the third suspect. Anyone with information about the final suspect is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (386) 73-5999 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS. Tipsters can also provide information by texting “TIP231 plus the message” to CRIMES. Anyone who provides information to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.