Police arrest suspected robber at Westside gas station

Suspect linked to home invasion, police say

Police are searching for a robbery suspect near Collins and Westport roads

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police surrounded a Gate gas station near the corner of Collins and Westport roads Saturday in the city’s Chimney Lakes neighborhood after an officer saw suspects in a home invasion there, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office said the suspects are believed to be linked to an early-morning call police received about a home invasion in Southeast Jacksonville. The caller told police that several armed people drove off in a gray Dodge Charger.

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A K-9 officer on patrol said they spotted the car traveling north at high speeds on the Buckman Bridge. The car was driving too fast and erratically for the officer to pull the driver over, so he followed as the car exited on Collins Road, erratically driving through parking lots before stopping at the Gate gas station.

The officer said he saw the driver get out of the car and go into the gas station, where he barricaded himself in the bathroom.

Police cautiously surrounded the car, not knowing if there were other armed people still inside.

Police evacuated the gas station and a called in a SWAT team. While SWAT was on its way to the scene, another officer tried to speak to the man, who refused to reply. About five minutes later, he came out of the bathroom and was taken into custody.

SWAT members arrived and were able to determine that the car was empty.

The driver was charged with reckless driving and resisting violence at the scene. An investigation into his connection to the possible home invasion robbery is still ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding the robbery is asked to call the JSO at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-645-TIPS.