Crime & Safety
Polk Detectives Arrest Man For Attempted Armed Robbery
The robber removed a small chrome handgun from his pocket and demanded the taxi driver give him everything he had.
UPDATE: Edner Dely turned himself in to the Pasco County officials Wednesday night, Dec. 13. The Polk County Sheriff's Office had warrants for him for attempted armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for an attempted robbery of a cab driver. He will be transferred to Polk County at a later date.
LAKELAND, FL—Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives are seeking the public help to locate a man who attempted to rob the Sunoco gas station at 2100 W. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland.
On the morning of Monday, Dec. 11, the victim, a taxi driver, drove 25-year-old Edner Dely of Dade City from a closed office building in Dade City to a location in Lakeland, and then to the Sunoco to retrieve cash from an ATM to pay the taxi fare.
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While at the gas station, detectives say Dely got out of the taxi and went to the ATM located inside the Sunoco store. When Dely returned to the taxi, he removed a small chrome handgun from his pocket and demanded the victim give him everything he had. The victim told Dely he did not have anything and Dely fled the scene on foot.
Dely is a black male, 6 feet 5 inches tall and 280 pounds. He was last seen wearing black shorts, a black hooded jacket and black sneakers. His last known address is 37134 Goldenrod Court in Dade City.
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The Polk County Sheriff's Office has issued an arrest warrant for Dely for attempted armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Detectives say he should be considered armed and dangerous,
His criminal history includes previous arrests for attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, exhibiting a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school, battery, robbery by sudden snatching, and violation of probation. He has a felony conviction for armed burglary.
Anyone with information can contact the Polk County Detective Meghan Reveron at (863) 298-6947 or, to be eligible for a cash reward, call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.
Photo via Polk County Sheriff's Office
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