Daytona Beach, FL - Two men suspected in a pair of armed robberies on both sides of Volusia County were arrested after Sheriff's deputies spotted their vehicle on Wednesday night and caught up with the fleeing suspects.
Volusia County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the scene of the first robbery in the Daytona Beach area shortly after 4 PM. The victim told deputies that he was working on a house on the 1200 block of Granada Ave. when a burgundy Nissan Altima pulled up. The man in the passenger seat got out of the car, pointed a gun at the victim, then demanded his wallet, money, and cell phone. The victim said the suspect had a distinct cross tattoo between his eyes.
While deputies were searching for that suspect vehicle, they got another call about an armed robbery involving the same vehicle description. That second robber was reported just after 6 PM on the 400 block of Main St. in Lake Helen. Shortly after that call came in, a deputy spotted the suspect vehicle heading north at 88 mph in a 55 mph zone on Prevatt Ave.
A deputy who was waiting at SR-44 and Prevatt deployed stop sticks, but the suspect vehicle managed to avoid them and continued fleeing east on SR-44. Another deputy deployed stop sticks a short time later and managed to get one of the tires, but the suspect vehicle continued to flee. Officials say a bag of heroin was tossed from the vehicle and witnesses called in to report that the driver threw a handgun out of the window. That gun was found and officials say it was reported stolen out of Holly Hill. A mask was also found on the road.
The suspects eventually jumped out of the car at the Malibu Condominiums on Atlantic Ave. After that, it didn't take long for deputies to track them down and take them into custody.
As of this morning, Antonio Harris, 33, and Alexis Neal, 27, both of Daytona Beach, are being held without bond at the Volusia County Jail. Harris has been charged with aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of heroin, possession of schedule IV narcotics, grand theft firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Neal, the suspect with the cross tattoo between his eyes, has been charged with possession of heroin, grand theft firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Additional charges are pending.
(Antonio Harris)
(Alexis Neal)
Officials say both suspects are convicted felons who were just recently released from prison. Neal was convicted of carjacking with a firearm and Harris was convicted of robbery with a firearm. Because the second robbery occurred within Lake Helen city limits, the Lake Helen Police Department has charged both Harris and Neal with robbery with a firearm. Video of the pursuit taken from Air One can be seen here. Mugshots of Harris and Neal courtesy VCSO. Photo courtesy Jacob Barone's Law Enforcement Photography and Flickr.com. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2018.
