Brooksville, FL – A 27-year-old New Hampshire man already in custody for robbing a Florida dollar store with a gun is now charged with doing the same thing at a restaurant in Volusia County.
An arrest warrant has been filed by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office charging Derek S. Kelley of Strafford in the December 17th robbery of the Subway at 915 Doyle Road in Deltona.
VCSO spokesman Andrew Gant says Kelley is locked up in the Hernando County Jail following his arrest in the robbery of a Dollar General in Brooksville on December 23rd. That’s near the Tampa Bay area.
“Kelley confessed to his involvement in 7 other Subway robberies in Florida and 1 in Georgia,” Gant added. “Investigators believe Kelley was the getaway driver in the robbery of the Subway in Deltona.”
29-year-old Michael Hilber – also from New Hampshire – was shot and killed by a Hernando County Sheriff’s Office deputy on the same day of the Dollar General robbery. Authorities believe he and Kelley were working together to commit all those robberies and that Hilber was trying to run from deputies when he was shot.
A massive manhunt that lasted nearly 24 hours ended with Kelley’s capture, according to the Tampa Bay Times (click here).
Gant says the robbery of a nearby Walgreens on that same day doesn’t appear to be connected to Hilber and Kelley.
“Sheriff’s investigators are still seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect who robbed the Providence Boulevard pharmacy of medicine,” Gant noted. “Anyone who provides information to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $5,000.”
Anyone with information on that case can call Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS (8477) or text it to CRIMES (274637) using “TIP231″ plus your message.
Click here for more on that case.
Derek S. Kelley (mugshot courtesy HCJ)
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.