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Suspect In Central Florida Robberies Arrested In Kissimmee

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 29, 2008

HAINES CITY - Thanks in part to some attentive citizens, Haines City police say they've arrested an Orlando man responsible for up to 10 bank robberies across Central Florida.

For now, Christopher Eugene Floyd, 29, has been charged in one Haines City robbery and two Lake County robberies. But he's a suspect in 10 robberies, stretching from Melbourne to Lakeland, starting in late March.

No one has been armed in any of the robberies, and it's not clear whether Floyd was armed during any of them.

Floyd was arrested Wednesday night at the Home Sweet Home motel on U.S. 192 in Kissimmee, Haines City police said.

'I think he was just laying his head wherever he could," Haines City police Lt. Brian McNulty said.

Police said Floyd's most recent robbery, of Haines City's SunTrust bank on Tuesday, proved his downfall.

As was the case in the other robberies, Floyd, who concealed his identity with glasses and a hat, passed a teller a note demanding money from the register. But this time, when he left, several people at a nearby gas station saw Floyd running to his car and followed him for several blocks, Haines City police said.

The pursuers were able to provide a partial tag number, which eventually led to a Jeep Cherokee owned by Floyd, Haines City police Chief Morris West said. The suspect in the series of robberies also used a 1980s red Thunderbird, and Floyd was found to own one of those, too, police said.

Detectives have not recovered any money.

Floyd, who was taken to the Polk County Jail, is a suspect in robberies in Polk, Brevard, Lake and Volusia counties.

Floyd has an extensive criminal history, including state prison time for burglary and grand theft. He has a string of arrests on theft, burglary and worthless checks charges dating to 1995.

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com.

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