ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County deputies arrested a man they said tried to rob an armored truck in a busy shopping plaza Friday afternoon.
The robbery of a Brinks truck in a Publix plaza sparked a heavy law enforcement presence and a search for two suspects near Chickasaw Trail and Curry Ford.
Investigators said Charles Chukes, 26, grabbed a bag of money from the Brinks guard as the guard was filling an ATM at a Wells Fargo bank at about 3 p.m. He's expected to face a judge Saturday.
Raw: Man accused of robbing Brinks driver hauled off to jail
Photos: Robbery of Brinks truck in Orange County
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Raw: Brinks truck robbery scene
"A suspect came up from behind and approached the Brinks driver and attempted to take his money bag," said Lourdes Clayton, of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
The Brinks driver fired at the robber, who then fled in a white Dodge Magnum.
The robber was not struck by the gunfire, but the sound of bullets flying sent bystanders ducking.
“I ducked down and looked out here, because I didn’t know where they were shooting at, what direction it was in,” said witness Tom Johnson.
Johnson said he saw money flying everywhere.
“A money bag hit the ground. They (witnesses) were just gathering it up and handing it back,” Johnson said.
Deputies located the getaway car in a nearby neighborhood and later arrested Chukes. Dozens of Orange County Sheriff's Office patrol cars surrounded the area, including where the car was found.
Deputies said they are looking for a second person, who may have been driving the car.
Deputies had guns drawn as they searched cars parked in surrounding neighborhoods. No one was injured when the Brinks driver opened fire. Chukes was arrested on a grand theft charge.
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