A man from Florida is facing serious charges after he reportedly stole from an arcade with a BB gun, got shot, and ran away.
A press release posted on the Clewiston Police Department’s Facebook page says that at around 2 a.m. on Saturday, officers went to a report of an attempted armed robbery.
Officers found out after a short investigation that a man in a mask came into the playground with a gun and told everyone to get on the ground.
The man ran away after the armed security guard at the shop fired one shot at him.
Police said that they searched the area and found a black BB gun that they think the suspect used to rob the store.
A few hours later, police were called to an apartment complex where they found a suspicious car with a guy slumped over the steering wheel.
When the police arrived, the man drove away in a car that was allegedly stolen and led them on a chase.
Chad Mitchell Waldrep, 48, of Hollywood, Florida, was caught by police after a short run.
Police say that when Waldrep was taken into custody, he told them that he had been shot earlier in the night.
Waldrep had what looked like a gunshot wound in his lower back, so he was flown to Hendry Regional Medical Center’s emergency center by helicopter.
During their investigation, police say they found proof that links Waldrep, who has been convicted of a crime, to the armed robbery at the arcade.
“Reporting suspicious behavior can help stop crime, solve crime, and save lives,” said Clewiston Police Chief Tom Lewis. “If you see something, tell someone.”
Even though the robbery seems to be an isolated case that doesn’t pose a threat to the community as a whole, police are still looking into the stolen car and are planning to make more charges.
When Waldrep gets out of the hospital, he will be charged with armed robbery and running from the cops.
Detective Charles Williams can be reached at 863-983-1474 if you have any information about what happened.
