Shots fired at Red Lobster - Robbery Investigation
Lake
City, FL
(Posted Feb 19, 2011 11:58 am)
On February 18, 2011 at approximately 10:44 p.m. Officers responded to Red Lobster located at 4367 NW U.S. 90 in reference to a robbery with shots being fired.
Officers arrived and made contact with witness, Robert Mitchell, victim, Sharon Van Meter and her daughter.
Sharon Van Meter stated that she and her daughter were in their car speaking to Robert Mitchell when an unknown white male had opened her passenger door, reached across her daughter, and stole her purse.
Sharon Van Meter then gave chase in her vehicle, chasing the suspect around the parking lot and eventually into the field where he was confronted by Robert Mitchell.
Sharon Van Meter stated she then heard a gunshot and she saw Robert Mitchell detaining the suspect and calling police.
Robert Mitchell stated he fired a warning shot into the ground with his pistol which stopped the suspect from running. Sharon began to pick up her belongings which had been dropped by the suspect. Robert Mitchell began to help Sharon Van Meter and the suspect then disappeared.
The suspect was described as a white male, late teens to early twenties, wearing a white ball cap and a camouflage jacket. A search of the area turned up items that are believed to have been dropped by the suspect. They will be sent off to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Lab to be analyzed.
An affidavit was forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for review on Robert Mitchell for improper exhibition of a firearm.
Anyone having information about this incident or others can contact the Lake City Police Department anonymously on the TIP line at (386) 719-2068.