POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff's Office is searching for four armed robbery suspects.
Detectives said the robbery suspects were involved in an illegal Snapchat marijuana purchase gone wrong.
Deputies were dispatched to Della Vita Apartments in unincorporated Winter Haven around 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Preliminary investigation says a victim at the apartment complex posted on Snapchat that he was selling a quarter ounce of marijuana.
An unknown person responded to the post and the victim made an arrangement to meet at the apartment complex to carry out the transaction, detectives said.
The victim told detectives he left his apartment to meet the suspect in the parking lot. The victim said two males that had firearms then grabbed him and robbed him.
He also said that two more suspects exited a cream-colored four-door Cadillac and proceeded to beat the victim and drag him back to his apartment.
The victim was able to free himself and entered his apartment, deputies said. The suspects then left the area.
The victim and a roommate armed themselves and went after the suspects. As they fired at the suspects, a stray bullet struck a neighbor.
The neighbor was treated at a local hospital and has been released.
Detectives are searching for the four suspects described as black males wearing hoodies. They are also looking for the cream-colored four-door Cadillac that the victim saw.
“These suspects are dangerous. They have put innocent residents’ lives at risk, and for what – a so-called non-violent marijuana drug deal. These criminals need to be caught, and caught quickly. Please contact our detectives with any information about this violent crime, or call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS to remain anonymous,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
If anyone has any information regarding the incident, the suspects, the vehicle in question or any other information that might be helpful to this investigation, please call Detective Escheu at 863-298-6200.
