On 08/03/19 at approximately 1: 07 a.m., Wildwood police officers responded to Gators Dockside at The Villages, Sumter County, Fl about an armed robbery that had just occurred. Upon arrival, the complainant stated three men wearing masks, hoodies, dark clothes, and gloves entered through the back of the restaurant and ambushed an employee and the manager in the office.
They reported that the defendants stole a cash drawer, and Apple iPhone, a black and yellow box containing $1,400.00 and two bank bags that contained money. One bank bag has “bar tip out” written on, which contained $700.00 and the second had “AM Bar” on it, containing $300.00. One of the defendants was reported to be wearing a bulletproof vest with the word “Sheriff” on the front and backside, as well as carried a black firearm. After collecting the items, the defendants then exited through the same door they entered and fled in an unknown direction.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Fruitland Park Police Department were in the area of Eurick Street following the track of the stolen iPhone. At approximately 1:39 a.m. Deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office observed a subject matching the clothing description as one of the robbers come out of an apartment. They turned around and went back into the apartment upon seeing the deputies outside. Contact was made with the resident who was sending the male back outside. The homeowner sent everybody in the residence outside and cooperated fully with deputies.
The stolen iPhone was heard in the vehicle that was registered to the homeowner of the apartment. Deputies requested consent to search the apartment, and the homeowner agreed, stating that the three males were stashing items all over the apartment and mainly in her room when the police were outside. Deputies began looking in the apartment and discovered clothes, shoes, and gun that matched the given description as well as the stolen Sheriff’s bulletproof vest. Officers on the scene were then told to secure all individuals from the residence.
The subjects were identified as Bradley D. McGary, Damieum Hurst, Chelsea Ann Holland, and a 15-year-old juvenile.
A further search of the apartment uncovered every item reported stolen from the armed robbery.
Holland admitted to knowing about the robbery, but only afterward when the other defendants arrived and hadn’t been present when the robbery took place. She also pointed out that it was the juvenile who wore the Sheriff’s body armor and Hurst who was armed with the handgun.
The juvenile also implicated all three other defendants, while Hurst and McGary denied having any involvement.
All defendants were eventually transported to Lake County Jail and booked without incident.
