CCSO: Orange Park Bingo robber identified

ORANGE PARK, Fla. – A suspect in a robbery at the Orange Park Bingo in January was identified by two anonymous tipsters after surveillance footage was released to the public, the Clay County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.

"This case is a great example of the type of serious crime that can be solved with the assistance of an attentive and concerned community," CCSO spokeswoman Mary Justino said in a news release. "Each time our agency releases photos or video of suspects and asks for the public's help … this is exactly the outcome for which we hope. We appreciate the assistance from all involved."

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Police said the anonymous calls came in Feb. 9, identifying the suspected robber as James Larry Diggs Jr. One caller described Diggs as a dangerous individual and said he was in jail on fraud charges in Okaloosa County.

The Sheriff's Office verified that Diggs was in the Okaloosa County Jail and based on the tips, contacted Diggs' father in Jacksonville. Diggs' father agreed to view the surveillance video of the crime and positively identified the robber as his son, police said, giving enough evidence for an arrest warrant to be issued.
 
Police interviewed Diggs at the Okaloosa Jail, and he confessed, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Detectives now believe the authentic looking firearm used in the crime was actually a toy gun purchased by the suspect in Jacksonville. Following the armed robbery, detectives believe Diggs left the bingo hall, walked to his residence, packed a suitcase and walked to the Greyhound bus station in downtown Jacksonville. He bought a ticket and fled the area to Fort Walton Beach by bus, police said.

While in Fort Walton Beach, Diggs got a job through Labor Finders and was working for a local company there. But Okaloosa County officials believe Diggs falsified his timesheets at that company and he was arrested on fraud charges.

He will be extradited back to Clay County to face the armed robbery charges at some point in the near future, police said.