ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Sheriff’s Office says the man seen attacking an 83-year-old woman outside an Orlando store is now in custody.
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24-year-old Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury faces robbery and battery charges.
Terrifying surveillance video shows Ruth Monroe being attacked outside Buddy’s Food and Lotto near the intersection of Curry Ford Road and Goldenrod Road.
The video shows the man wrestling and dragging the woman to the ground.
Monroe tells Eyewitness News she had just picked up $200, her lottery winnings.
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Video shows the store clerk running out of the store. An arrest affidavit Eyewitness News obtained Thursday says the store clerk demanded Tavarez Fluery leave Monroe alone. The court records say Tavarez Fluery “pretended to walk away but then turned around and charged at the victim while reaching for the money.”
The clerk eventually was able to pull the suspect away from the victim, but Tavarez Fluery ran away from the scene with the woman’s money, court records say.
She’s reminded of the attack with a bandaged hand and a ripped lottery ticket.
Orange County Corporal William Ramirez says criminals look for opportunities.
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He says law enforcement often refer to the “crime triangle” when talking about crime prevention.
It includes desire, ability, and opportunity. Ramirez explained how we can’t control someone’s desire or ability to commit a crime, but citizens can control the opportunity.
“So just be aware of your surroundings, you know? Don’t give them the opportunity to take that money, put that money away before you walk out of a store or if you walk out of a bank. Put that money away so that they can’t see it.,” Ramirez said.
Taverez Fluery waived his first appearance in court Thursday afternoon.
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