DNA Found on Ball Cap Leads to Arrest in January Armed Robbery

Date Added: August 07, 2018 11:54 am

Laura Williams, Office of Media Relations & Public Affairs

Sanford Man Arrested in Armed Robbery, Thanks to DNA Found On Ball Cap

Patience and careful detective work paid off this week after DNA found on an Orlando Magic hat linked a Sanford man to an armed robbery that took place in January at a DeBary convenience store.

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. An arrest warrant was issued Aug. 3 for Trey D. Brown, 25 (DOB 4/11/93), of Sanford. On Monday, Brown was located by Orange County sheriff’s deputies and arrested on a warrant charging him with robbery with a deadly weapon.

The robbery occurred just before 4 a.m. Jan. 18 at a Circle K gas station, 312 Dirksen Drive. The store clerk told Volusia County sheriff’s deputies she was making coffee when she suddenly heard a male’s voice behind her. When she turned around, the suspect displayed a black-handled, 10-inch-long knife and demanded money from two cash registers. Fearing for her life, the clerk complied by retrieving $160.21. The suspect also demanded two kinds of cigars and then fled on foot, taking care to wipe the store handle off with a towel as he left.

The suspect was described as a black male, 5’5” tall and wearing a white towel around his head, concealing his face.  As the suspect left the store, a witness walked into the store. The witness told deputies he saw the suspect walk east toward the nearby Hampton Inn. That’s where K9 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.

Detectives used surveillance video from the Circle K and the Hampton Inn, along with witness interviews to build their case, while they waited for results of DNA swabs taken from the items and sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Detectives also discovered body camera video showing Brown interacting with Volusia deputies in DeBary during an incident on 2/24/18 that began in Seminole County.

Finally, July 30, detectives received DNA information that led them to Brown. They carefully reviewed their evidence and established probable cause to link him to the DeBary robbery.

Brown is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail with no bail allowed.