Robbery suspect was tossing cash out of car window as he fled, Florida deputies say

A 4 a.m. convenience store heist took a strange turn when the suspect began throwing cash out a window as he fled in a stolen car, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in Florida reports.

Two deputies were hurt in the minutes that followed, including one who was hit when the 29-year-old suspect put the car in reverse and backed into him, according to a news release.

The robbery happened Thursday, Oct. 27, at a Circle K in Naples, and investigators didn’t reveal how much cash went flying — or how much was picked up.

“He (the suspect) waited outside the store until all the customers were gone before going inside. He approached the clerk with his right hand under his shirt, indicating he was armed,” the sheriff’s office reported.

“He demanded the clerk’s car keys and ... made off with the victim’s vehicle and an undisclosed amount of cash.”

Deputies spotted the stolen car making a u-turn minutes later, and the driver “ignored deputies’ attempts to pull him over,” officials said.

“During the pursuit, deputies watched (him) throw money out his window,” officials said.

One deputy used his vehicle to bring the stolen car to a stop. However, the suspect continued to resist capture by backing the vehicle into one of the patrol cars, officials said.

“He then accelerated and struck a deputy who was walking toward him. The deputy sustained injuries to his head, neck and arm,” the sheriff’s office said. “Another deputy also sustained injuries to one of his arms while trying to take (him) into custody.”

Three deputies eventually pulled the man from the car. It was then discovered “he had stab wounds to his abdomen.”

“A large kitchen knife” was found in the car, officials said.

The suspect, a convicted felon in Florida, was flown to a Fort Myers hospital for treatment and later released into the custody of deputies and arrested, officials said.

He has been charged with “armed robbery with a firearm, grand theft auto, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and fleeing and eluding,” officials said.

This story was originally published October 27, 2022 at 12:11 PM with the headline "Robbery suspect was tossing cash out of car window as he fled, Florida deputies say."