LCPD Arrest Suspect In Home Invasion Robbery: Suspect flees after hearing the name of Jesus
Posted January 27, 2013 09:45 am
By
Craig Strickland, LCPD
LAKE CITY, FL – On January 25, 2013, at approximately 7:45 p.m., an unknown white male committed a home invasion robbery of a residence during a jewelry party. The male suspect threatened all the ladies inside with a handgun. He fled the scene minutes later empty handed.
Arrested: Derick Jeremy Lee
Race/sex: white male
DOB: 11/02/1988 Address: Lake City, FL Charges: home
invasion robbery
At approximately 7:45 p.m. a group of 15 ladies were participating in a Premiere Jewelry home party at the residence of Mrs. Jacquelyn Hagler located at 249 SW Lakeview Avenue. During the evening's activities an unknown white male entered the residence brandishing a handgun. He was described as 5'06" wearing a dark ski cap on his head with a dark colored bandana across his face. He had on dark pants and a dark jacket.
Upon entering the residence, the suspect later identified as Mr. Derick J. Lee, 24, pointed the handgun at the ladies and began yelling, "Give me your money and your phones," and threw a black bag down on the table. One of the ladies, thinking this was a practical joke, pushed Mr. Lee's hand away and said with a laugh, "It's only a water pistol."
Mr. Lee yelled at them. "I'm not joking! I'm going to shoot someone! Give me your money!"
Mr. Lee placed the gun to the victim's left temple and then on several other ladies.
Mrs. Hagler stood up and shouted, "Get out of my house in the name of Jesus!"
The other ladies in the home began to shout the name "Jesus."
The women said Mr. Lee stood there for a few seconds and then ran out of the house empty handed.
LCPD Investigator, Tammy Cox, responded to the scene. Based on the physical description given by the women and previous calls in the area, Officer Larry Thomas provided Investigator Cox with two possible suspects that live in the immediate area. After providing the victims with a photo lineup, several of the ladies immediately pointed out Mr. Lee as the armed suspect.
At approximately 8:57 p.m. the LCPD Communications Center received a call from a female victim advising someone just attempted to rob her at gunpoint. The victim, Mrs. Patricia Pafford, 62, was attempting to get money from the walk-up ATM at the Bank of America, 355 SW Bentley Place (SR-47 and SW Main Blvd.), when a gunman approached her from behind as she returned to her vehicle.
Mrs. Pafford told police that while pointing a handgun at her the suspect yelled, "Give me your money." She described the perpetrator as a white male wearing all dark clothing with a dark colored ski cap on his head and a dark colored bandana covering his face.
Mrs. Pafford said she began yelling at the armed robber who then fled on foot back toward SW Main Blvd.
K-9 officers from the Florida Wildlife Commission responded and attempted to track the suspect, but were unsuccessful. Due to the clothing description, proximity of the two crimes and the timeframe of both, Mr. Lee is also being considered as a suspect in this armed robbery attempt.
Anyone having information about this incident or others can contact the Lake City Police Department anonymously on the TIP line at (386) 719-2068.
LCPD press release edited by the Observer
