Incident at DeLand Sunoco has police searching neighborhood

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
On the scene — The DeLand Police are on the scene this afternoon, Feb. 18, at Ray's Sunoco, 701 E. New York Ave., after being advised a cooperative shoplifter there may have been carrying a gun.

Police determine it was a case of shoplifting

By Jen Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Feb 18, 2013 - 5:15:12pm

A possible armed robbery at Ray's Sunoco, 701 E. New York Ave. in DeLand, had police officers and police dogs combing Northeast DeLand this afternoon.

However, police said, the incident was downgraded to a case of shoplifting.

Sgt. Chris Estes of the DeLand Police said the suspect "allegedly stole meat products and when confronted by the staff, returned the property to them without incident and left."

Apparently concern was heightened, Estes said, when a Sunoco staff member patted the suspect's pockets to assure the man didn't have more stolen merchandise, and felt something that the suspect told him was a gun.

"The suspect never implied he had a weapon or threatened anyone during the course of the shoplifting, which resulted in the call being downgraded," Estes said.

In the meantime, DeLand officers and their canine companions searched the neighborhood for the suspect.

Estes said the man was eventually located, but information about any possible charges against him was not available.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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