A lottery winner was involved in a “violent robbery” outside a store in Orange County on Wednesday morning, and now the sheriff’s office is on the lookout for the suspect.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the victim who is a 83-year-old woman—was approached while she was trying to get into her car after cashing in her $200 winnings at Buddy’s Food and Lotto on Curry Ford Road. “Surveillance footage captured the suspect, and deputies believe he is Diego Stalin Tavarez Fleury,” sheriff’s officials said.
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On Thursday, the sheriff’s office dropped the news that they’ve arrested Tavarez Fleury. Ae Sun Lee, who’s been working at Buddy’s Food and Lotto for over ten years, said she knows the victim personally. “She’s a regular customer,” Lee said. “I’ve known her for over 10 years. She’s a very nice lady and talks to everybody. Everybody is her friend.”
The footage reveals the store owner sprinting to help the victim as the suspect grappled with the elderly woman, ultimately throwing her to the ground before making off with the cash. Investigators noted that Tavarez Fleury is a familiar face in the neighborhood, and they’ve issued an arrest warrant for him on counts of robbery and battery.
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Lee mentioned she’s spotted Tavarez Fleury hanging out outside the store before. “He’s a troublemaker,” she said. “He just hangs outside. I remember my manager giving him a trespass notice years ago, but they still come back. They don’t care.”
Tavarez Fleury is facing charges for robbery and battery against someone 65 or older.
