A Mount Dora man wanted in connection with two armed robberies has discovered that greed doesn’t pay.
Cordell Allen, 25, was arrested by Leesburg Police officers last weekend in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart store located at 2501 Citrus Blvd. The arrest came after a covert surveillance operation on Allen that was conducted by the police department’s Investigative Division and SWAT team.
Allen and another man were being sought in connection with the May 20 armed robberies in Ocala, the first at the Subway restaurant at 6855 SE Maricamp Road, followed by a holdup at the Food Mart at 6701 SW Highway 200.
Allen was charged with two counts of armed robbery with a firearm and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
Tevin Bostic, 25, also was arrested. The vehicle the men were traveling in was seized and was believed to contain evidence related to other armed robberies in the area, according to the Leesburg Police Department.
The two robberies were committed hours apart, with the suspects taking an undetermined amount of cash. They also robbed customers inside the Food Mart and law enforcement officials say Allen tried to take a donation jar that was on the corner of a counter. But the jar was tied down and wouldn’t move, so he left it behind before fleeing the store, officials say.
A short time later, Marion County Sheriff’s Office forensic technicians were able to lift several of Allen’s fingerprints from the donation jar, which helped detectives identify and arrest him.
The second man wanted in the armed robberies is still outstanding. Anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts is being asked to call Det. Travis O’Cull at 352-369-6805 or Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867).