Trio Behind Bars For Brazen Robbery Of Elderly Woman
By Space Coast Daily // October 31, 2012
Two-Week Investigation
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Detectives in Palm Bay have arrested three suspects for robbing an elderly woman at gunpoint in her home.
Palm Bay Police Department spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez said the arrests followed a two-week investigation of the crime.
Martinez said Iesha Lewis, 20, Ackeeta Brown, 20, and Michael Lloyd, 21, face felony charges of armed home invasion robbery, aggravated assault on a person over the age of 65 and grand theft.
“If convicted the trio could each face a maximum of 50 years in prison for the crimes,” Martinez said.
On the morning of Oct. 20 at about 10 a.m., the victim, an 80-year-old woman, went to the front door of her residence in the 700 block of Airoso Road in Palm Bay.
“The victim thought her grandson was at the door, but instead found a black male suspect wearing a knit cap covering his face and displaying a handgun,” Martinez said.
The suspect and at least two other suspects also wearing knit caps over their faces then forced their way into the home and robbed the victim at gunpoint.
The suspects took jewelry, cash, a flat screen television and other items valued at approximately $750.
The victim was not injured during the robbery.
As the suspects fled, two witnesses who were working on landscaping jobs in the area, saw them running and getting into a Chevy Blazer.
Martinez said the witnesses immediately noted the tag number after briefly following the vehicle and getting descriptions of the suspects as they no longer had their faces covered.
Further investigation revealed the identity of the suspects who were later positively identified by one of the witnesses as being the same individuals seen fleeing the scene.
“Our citizens made the difference in this case,” said Detective Ernie Diebel. “They saw what they believed was suspicious activity and immediately took action without putting themselves or anyone else in danger. The information they provided quickly lead us to the suspects and we were able to make quick arrests in order to prevent additional crimes.”
