Alachua man charged in internet casino armed robbery
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An Alachua man has been identified as the one suspect charged so far in an armed robbery at a Columbia County internet casino early Monday.
Deputies say Caleb Na’shon Bowers, 19, and at least two other people entered the Vegas One Casino, 4201 N. U.S. 441, at about 5 a.m., according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office warrant.
Public Information Officer Murray Smith said the suspects entered the casino, told about 10 customers inside to get down onto the floor and approached two workers to demand money from the business.
They then exited as deputies arrived in the parking and led law enforcement on a high speed chase away from the business, the warrant said.
Deputies followed close behind the 2008 Saab as it traveled south on U.S. 441 and into Alachua County, reaching speeds up to 135 mph, the warrant said.
The car stopped in the intersection of County Road Northwest 222nd Street and Northwest 176th Avenue, just east of downtown High Springs, the warrant said, at which point the robbers all jumped out and ran.
Bowers was found after a 1½ hour search conducted by several law enforcement agencies. A K9 tracked his scent to a nearby neighborhood.
He is held at the Alachua County jail on a charge of armed robbery.
A later search of the Saab found a loaded AR-15 rifle, semi-automatic handgun and body armor inside, the warrant said.
At least two more suspects are still at large, said Smith, of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
