A man was caught on surveillance video violently robbing an 83-year-old woman of her lottery winnings and running away in Orlando, Florida, Wednesday morning, but the suspect was not be arrested and put in jail.
You can view surveillance footage here Orange County Sheriff's Office robbery outside a store on Curry Ford Road near the intersection of South Goldenrod Road. said.
“I don't remember hitting the ground. For my age and my age, I wasn't scared. But when I looked at his face – his face was cold.
The sheriff's office said deputies believe the gunman was Diego Starlin Tavares Fleury, and authorities are asking the public for help finding him and providing a photo.
According to WTLV-TVthe incident occurred at 8:17 a.m.
In the video, a woman walks from the store to her car, seemingly unaware that the robber, wearing a red jacket and black baseball cap, is approaching from across the aisle in front of the store.
By the time the woman noticed the attacker, he was only a few feet away from her and began reaching for something in her hand, and the woman let go of his hand.
Soon another man comes out of the store— WESH TV reported It was the store manager — and he and the robber apparently exchanged words. For a moment, it appeared that the robber was about to leave the scene, but then he suddenly started moving towards the woman, before the store manager intervened and grabbed him by the arm from behind.
As the store manager continues to struggle, the elderly woman resists the attacker, but as she falls to the ground in the parking lot, the attacker appears to snatch something from her hand.
So the culprit escapes from the store manager's hands and runs away, and the store manager takes care of the old woman who was still on the ground.
ABC News reported Fleury is charged with robbery, sudden snatching and assault on a person over 65 years of age.
WOFL-TV According to a new arrest report, an anonymous caller tipped off officers that Fleury was hiding in a house about a half-mile from the convenience store and attempted to flee when officers arrived. He was reportedly arrested after crossing the street. The sheriff's office announced Fleury's arrest less than 24 hours after the incident.
“So, wouldn't it be a better place if more people stepped up and tried to help others…?”
According to WESH, Ruth Monroe, the victim of the physical assault and robbery, returned to the store to pick up a lottery ticket just one day after the incident, and deputies said the store's name was “Buddy's.” Food and Lottery,'' he added.
“I'm 83 years old. I've never been hit,” Monroe told the station from the driver's seat of his car, his left hand bandaged.
added monroe WOFL-TV“I don't remember hitting the ground. For me and my age, I wasn't scared. But when I looked at his face, his face was cold.”
Ae Soon Lee, who works at the store, told WESH that Monroe was a regular customer.
“It’s just for fun,” she told WESH. “Bingo, Scratch Tickets, Lotto”.
Sun Lee told WESH that she recognized the man suspected of robbing Monroe, adding that she called him a “troublemaker” who was “just hanging out outside” and not a regular customer.
“He's always helping people, not just this guy, but all the time,” Sun Lee told WESH about his store manager.
Debbie Davis, another regular customer, told WESH she wasn't surprised the store manager was willing to help and wished more people would do the same.
“So, wouldn't it be a better place if more people stepped up and tried to help others…?” she asked Wesh.
You can view the video report here and here About the incident and its aftermath. Both include interviews with elderly victims.
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