'Justice' Served to Robbery Suspects

SPRING HILL, FL – A group of people who thought they spotted an easy mark at an ATM in Spring Hill found out the hard way just how wrong they were.

According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Joseph Hildreth had just used the ATM at the 4176 Mariner Blvd. Suncoast Credit Union on Dec. 12 when he saw several people approaching him from behind a neighboring business. As the people walked closer to him, Hildreth watched them place handkerchiefs over their faces.

Hildreth tried to get away, the sheriff’s office said, but wasn’t quite able to. Before he could reach his car, one of the suspects told him, “Give me your money and you won’t get hurt.”

Despite the warning, the people began to attack Hildreth and “in just seconds, Hildreth was on the ground, being beaten,” an email from the sheriff’s office said.

As it turned out, K9 Cpl. Stephen Miller happened to be across the street and saw the attack unfold. He arrived at the bank just as Hildreth hit the ground, the sheriff’s office said. The suspects ran in two different directions.

“Corporal Miller immediately deployed K-9 Justice,” the email said. “K-9 Justice pursued the two
suspects that ran behind the building. With K-9 Justice out of his sight and the third suspect fleeing in another direction, Corporal called K-9 Justice back. K-9 Justice returned and was deployed after the third suspect.”

Justice was able to bring that suspect, Christopher Hibbert, into custody, the sheriff’s office said. He did have to pay a visit to Oak Hill Hospital for treatment of a canine bite before being booked into the Hernando County Jail, the sheriff’s office noted.

Further investigation revealed the identities of additional suspects, the sheriff’s office said. Patrol officers responded to 16215 Fullington Road in Brooksville to make the arrests. Brandy Faulkner, Corey Rodriquez and a 16-year-old boy were brought into custody at that time.

Another suspect, Derek O’Brien, reported to the sheriff’s office on his own for questioning, the agency noted.

“O’Brien and (the teen) had also received canine bites from K-9 Justice,” the sheriff’s office noted. “They advised when they dove in the get-away car, K-9 Justice dove in right behind them, biting them both before hearing his handler call him back.”

Those arrested in connection with the robbery are:

Christopher Robin Hibbert, 28

• Charge: Strong Arm Robbery

Derek Lee O’Brien, 25

• Charge: Strong Arm Robbery

Corey Rodriguez, 23

• Charge: Strong Arm Robbery

16-Year-Old Boy

• Charge: Strong Arm Robbery

Brandy Faulkner, 27

• Charge: Strong Arm Robbery

Photo of Justice courtesy of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office