DNA From Cap Leads To Arrest In DeBary Robbery

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DeBary, FL - DNA found on an Orlando Magic cap helps the Volusia County Sheriff's Office arrest a Sanford man for using a knife to rob a convenience store nearly seven months ago.

25-year-old Trey D. Brown's arrest yesterday (August 6th) capped off months of hard detective work, according to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood during an interview today on WNDB's Marc Bernier Show.

"The only thing [that was] disappointing is how long it took for the DNA to [be processed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement]," Chitwood added. "It's not FDLE's fault. The lab's way behind. They're understaffed. They're underfunded. But the detectives knew that [DNA] was what was going to break this case."

The robbery happened in the early morning hours of January 18th at a Circle K on Dirksen Drivein DeBary, according to VCSO spokesperson Laura Williams.

"[The] quick recovery of clothing items - including the purple Orlando Magic ball cap worn by the suspect and ditched after the robbery - led sheriff’s detectives to identify a suspect," Williams added. "Brown was located by Orange County sheriff’s deputies and arrested on a warrant charging him with robbery with a deadly weapon."

Circle K security video shows the suspect coming in and forcing the female clerk on duty to give him over $160 in cash from the register and two types of cigars before walking out, wiping the door handle with a towel to erase fingerprint or DNA evidence.

The store clerk told VCSO she was making coffee when the suspect approached her from behind and showed a 10-inch knife in his possession, per Williams.

"As the suspect left the store, a witness walked into the store," Williams stated. "The witness told deputies he saw the suspect walk east toward the nearby Hampton Inn. That’s where K-9 deputies located a pair of gloves lying in the parking lot, along with the ball cap, khaki pants and a white towel believed to be used in the robbery. A kitchen knife was also located in a pocket in the pants."

As of this afternoon, Brown is held without bond at Volusia County Jail.