English
UPDATE: Suspect Arrested In 2 Armed Robberies
Date Added: November 25, 2019 10:40 am
Laura Williams
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations
UPDATE #2: DETECTIVES ARREST SUSPECT IN 2 EASTSIDE ARMED ROBBERIES
Daytona Beach Man Recognized as Regular Customer at BP Station
Volusia sheriff’s deputies from the Eastside Crime Suppression Team have arrested a suspect wanted in two recent armed robberies in the Daytona Beach area.
Lawrence Westbrook, 51, (DOB 3/2/1968), of Daytona Beach was located Saturday night at 9th Street and Derbyshire Road, near Derby Plaza, in Daytona Beach. He was arrested on warrants for armed robberies at BP gas station, 1094 Derbyshire Road, and 7-Eleven, 1200 Flomich St., Daytona Beach. The suspect was recognized as a regular customer at the BP gas station.
The suspect was identified during the investigation by Volusia County Crime Center Analysts and VSO detectives. Westbrook was in possession of the weapon and gloves used during the robberies when he was arrested by Crime Suppression deputies.
Westbrook is charged with two counts of robbery with a firearm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He remains in custody at the Branch Jail on $30,000 bail.
***
Earlier:
Nov. 22, 2019
UPDATE #1: VSO Detectives are investigating an armed robbery that occurred just after midnight today at 7-Eleven, 1200 Flomich St., Daytona Beach. The suspect in this robbery appears to be the same person who robbed the BP gas station early Wednesday at 1094 Derbyshire Road – (original news release appears below).
At 12:03 a.m. today, an armed robbery at 7-Eleven was reported to sheriff’s deputies. A male suspect entered the store and approached two employees. He displayed a handgun and threatened to shoot one of the employees if he did not provide the suspect money from the cash registers. The employee complied and gave money to the suspect, who exited the front door and ran west.
The male suspect matches the description of the male who robbed the BP gas station Wednesday. Anyone with information about either of these armed robberies is urged to contact Det. Huffman at ahuffman@vcso.us. Additional details will be released when they become available.
In an unrelated incident Thursday night, two men reported being robbed outside Dixie’s Gentlemen’s Club, 3705 N. U.S. 17, DeLand, just after 10 p.m.
One victim arrived to pick up his friend, who had been inside Dixie’s. As the victims sat inside the vehicle parked in the parking lot, an unknown vehicle pulled up and two male suspects exited and approached the victims’ car. One suspect had two handguns and demanded their valuables. The suspects then fled in their vehicle.
The victims entered Dixie’s and asked the manager to call law enforcement to report the armed robbery.
Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact Det. Gordon via email: bgordon@vcso.us or call the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number: (386) 248-1777 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-8477 (TIPS).
***
ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE:
Nov. 21, 2019
VSO DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE ARMED ROBBERY AT DAYTONA BP GAS STATION
Suspect Points Gun, Pistol-Whips Clerk Then Steals Cash, Flees
Volusia sheriff’s detectives are investigating an armed robbery at a Daytona Beach BP gas station in which a male suspect pointed a handgun at the male clerk and demanded money, then pistol-whipped the clerk when he didn’t immediately comply with the robber’s demands. The suspect helped himself to money from the cash register, fleeing on foot.
The incident occurred early Wednesday at the BP, 1094 Derbyshire Road, about 1:35 a.m. However, the armed robbery wasn’t immediately reported until deputies were flagged down at 2:27 a.m. by a male subject who said he was in his vehicle near the BP station when a male ran from the station and approached him.
The male offered the reporting person $10 for a ride. The driver took the money and agreed to give the male a ride. But the trip was cut short when the male asked to buy narcotics and the reporting person said he didn’t have narcotics to sell. The male snatched the $10 back, scratching the driver’s face, and exited the vehicle, fleeing on foot in an unknown direction. The reporting person told deputies the incident had happened some time earlier. He stated he didn’t want to press charges, only to alert them of the incident.
Deputies learned of the BP robbery when they entered the store to investigate. The clerk said he was attacked by an unknown male who approached the counter carrying beer to purchase and asked for cigarettes. When the clerk turned to pick out cigarettes, the suspect pointed the firearm at the clerk and demanded money, threatening to shoot him if he didn’t comply. When the suspect tried to jump over the counter, the clerk pushed the suspect. That’s when the suspect hit him in the head with the handle of the gun, grabbed money and fled.
The clerk suffered a small laceration and bruising and refused medical treatment for his injuries.
Anyone with information about this incident or the suspect is asked to contact the Volusia Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at (386) 248-1777 or email Detective Huffman at ahuffman@vcso.us. Or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477 (TIPS) or via the P3 Tips mobile app. You could receive a cash reward.
###