Preparedness
Drones and SWAT Nab Armed Robbery Ring Targeting Dollar Generals
In an innovative use of technology and manpower, Florida law enforcement recently employed drones and SWAT members to apprehend four individuals connected to a series of armed robberies. The Jacksonville police force managed to nab the suspects just minutes following their most recent heist at a Dollar General store.
Jacksonville Sheriff T. K. Waters delivered a media briefing this past Tuesday, revealing that the group, comprised of three men and one woman, had reportedly stolen approximately $11,000 from various Dollar General locations across Jacksonville using firearms. A determined Sheriff Waters declared, “They won’t be doing that anymore. Not in our city.”
The law enforcement authorities noted a consistent modus operandi across the four robberies. The suspects would strike at the cusp of the stores’ closing times. One criminal would be in charge of the getaway vehicle – a white Dodge Charger – while the remaining three, armed with guns, would enter the store.
Sheriff Waters shared that they had informed other Dollar General employees about the troubling pattern, and also utilised undisclosed technology to identify potential suspects and the vehicle.
After the fourth robbery on May 1, the police managed to apprehend the four suspects following a brief chase. The pursuit ended with the discharge of a firearm, but thankfully, no injuries were reported. Upon inspecting the car, the police discovered ski masks, three guns, and stolen cash and merchandise amounting to $3,500.
The suspects, identified as Jakeithiyah Daniel (25), Jackeri Lewis (26), Nathaniel Carter (23), and Tresonda Benefield (24), were taken into custody.
The authorities also executed a search warrant at the residences of two suspects, yielding clothing and a box of latex gloves identical to those used in the previous robberies.
Although none of the personnel involved in the robberies or the subsequent arrest were physically harmed, two of the Dollar General employees engulfed in the robbery situation elected not to return to work.
Tom Hackney, a retired police officer and current legal analyst for WJXT-TV, empathetically remarked, “It is life-altering. It impacts the way you see things after that for a very long time. They’re scared to death.”
Surveillance footage from the robberies, as well as drone video from the arrests, was secured by WJXT.
Addressing the solitary shot fired during the arrest, Waters said the incident is undergoing administrative review. However, he postulated that the action could be justified, as one of the suspects reportedly aimed a firearm at an officer. He stated, “The suspects could have lost their lives, and it would have been right for the police officers to be able to use force in that case.”
A representative for Dollar General’s corporate offices briefly commented on the incidents, but did not provide further details.
The four apprehended suspects now face charges of first-degree felony armed robbery.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Daniel Quigley
May 23, 2024 at 11:30 am
To me using a Drone keeps the population in the area much safer. Instead of the police chashing the vehicle putting everyone else on the road at risk, this allows them to follow that vehicle keeping the public and officers safer. We hear to often about a Car Chase gone wrong were innocent victims are hit and unfortunately sometimes injured or even killed while the criminals escape. A Drone is also about 10 thousand times cheaper than a Helocopter or Plane the Police also use. Just think a Drone that cost under 1 thousand dollars kept a million dollar Helo on the ground. People who think it’s not right or a invasion of privacy aren’t looking at the big picture. Those Criminals were being looked at anyway and instead of taking say another 6 months or possibly even a few more years putting thousands more at risk this ended their Rein of Terror. Next time you see a High Speed Police Chase on TV or witness 1 in person just remember all those innocent other drivers and pedestrians that high speed Chase puts at risk. I’d personally love to see the High Speed Chase come to a end Nationwide and every PD use Drones to Chase the Criminals from the Air. Plus the huge cost savings of not chasing them from the ground or using the expensive help and or plane. As we get more technology to use the criminals will have less of a chance to get away. It’s also better than having those Big Brother Video Cameras on every street corner like NYC has.
Joe Forish
May 23, 2024 at 1:40 pm
Didn’t they look like the salt of the earth people, you know just chillin. I’m glad it happened in Florida instead of New York or Bragg would have let them loose. May be it would have been better if they did start a gun fight and we would not have to pay for locking them up etc.
Paul
May 26, 2024 at 5:06 pm
4 more pieces of crap off the streets. Unfortunately some dumb ass defender and or judge will let them off with a slap on the wrist. Then, the dumbasscrats can claim that violent crime is dropping. When anyone with a brain can clearly deduce, that it is failure to prosecute that drives their crime numbers dowm!