A 24-year-old Orlando man is behind bars after he allegedly robbed an elderly woman of her lottery winnings outside a local store on Wednesday.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, a male suspect – later identified by law enforcement as Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury – robbed an 83-year-old woman outside a store located on Curry Ford Road, near the intersection of S Goldenrod Road, on the morning of Wednesday, January 15.
In a social media post, OCSO released footage of the robbery, which showed the elderly victim approaching the driver’s side of her vehicle at 8:17 a.m. on Wednesday. She was holding an unspecified amount of cash that she won from the lottery when the male suspect approached her.
On the footage, the suspect attempted to snatch the cash from the victim. Moments later, a male witness exited the store and confronted the suspect, who began to walk away from the victim.
However, the footage shows the suspect quickly moving towards the victim before snatching her lottery winnings. The victim was then knocked to the ground as the witness grabbed the suspect from behind.
After a brief struggle, the suspect broke free from the witness and fled from the area on foot.
On social media, OCSO stated that deputies reviewed the footage and identified the suspect as Tavarez Fleury.
On Thursday, January 16, with help from the local community, deputies were able to locate Tavarez Fleury. He was placed under arrest and transported to Orange County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond.
Tavarez Fleury is being charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or older (two counts), possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.