Suspect of attempted robbery at Speedway gas station, Inverness, FL, detained within 15 minutes
Citrus County, Florida - Shortly after 9:00 am on Sunday, February 21, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Communication Center received a call that a robbery had just occurred at the Speedway gas station located at 9515 E. Gulf to Lake Highway in Inverness, Florida.
Deputies were informed that a black male wearing an orange hooded sweater and blue jeans had entered the store, brandishing a firearm, demanding money. When the suspect's demand for money was not met, he fled on foot
Deputies responding to the robbery observed a male who matched the description of the suspect, walking in a westerly on East Gulf to Lake Highway. This man, who was later identified as 37 year-old Anthony Lamar Wright of Inverness, was detained, pending an investigation into the just-reported crime. When deputies conducted a pat-down search of Mr. Wright's person, they located a plastic gun replica in the front right pocket of Wright's hooded sweater.
At the Speedway gas station, deputies obtained positive identification from the store clerk, that Wright was indeed the suspect who had entered the store, demanding money, while displaying the firearm. Wright was placed under arrest, charged with armed robbery, and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $20,000 bond.
"We are extremely proud of both Deputy Anderson and Deputy Bostic, along with Sgt. Laborda, who worked to quickly apprehend this robbery suspect," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Within fifteen minutes of this crime being reported, CCSO deputies had the suspect detained, and ultimately solved this case."