Man Accused Of Pistol Whipping, Robbing Elderly Plant City Man

PLANT CITY, FL — Plant City Police have taken a man into custody after they said he battered and robbed an elderly resident and tried to elude police in a high-speed chase.

At 4:55 p.m. Wednesday, an elderly man had just returned to his home in the 3300 block of Silvermoon Drive in Plant City from the grocery store when he was approached in his driveway by a masked man who pointed a semi-automatic gun at him and demanded his wallet.

When the man refused to hand over his wallet, the robber pushed him to the ground, causing the man to strike his head on the concrete driveway. The victim continued to refuse demands to hand over his wallet so the robber pistol whipped him several times before grabbing the wallet and fleeing in a black, four-door Chevrolet Impala.

The victim's grandson, who was inside the house, called 911, and police quickly located the Impala and attempted to pull it over. The robber refused to stop, driving away at a high speed. The pursuit ended when the Impala crashed into a vehicle at the intersection of West Grant Street and South Collins Streets.

From there, the robber fled on foot and ignored commands to halt and surrender. He eventually tried to hide in a shed but was found by police who surrounded the shed. The robber finally surrendered and was taken into custody.

He was identified as Melvin Denard Duekes, 31. A Glock 19 pistol found in the Impala had been reported stolen by the Cape Coral Police. The victim's wallet was also recovered.

He's been charged with robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon on a person over 65 years of age, resisting officers without violence, felon in possession of a firearm, wearing a mask in public, theft from a person over 65 years of age, reckless driving, fleeing to elude a police officer and driving while license is suspended or revoked.