A 20-year-old man was arrested early Tuesday morning after he allegedly robbed two local gas stations while claiming to have a gun.
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the Circle K located at 2196 Howland Boulevard at around 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15, in reference to an armed robbery. A male employee told law enforcement that a suspect, later identified as Dylan Conner Hope, had handed him a note demanding money and threatening to shoot him with a gun if he failed to comply, according to VCSO.
The sheriff’s office stated that the employee did not comply with Hope, and Hope left the gas station.
Several minutes later, a VCSO deputy pulled into the Circle K located at 2720 Elkam Boulevard, which is across the street from the incident location. A second male employee then attempted to run out of the convenience store, but Hope allegedly grabbed the employee by the neck and dragged him back inside the store.
The second employee managed to get away from Hope and ran out of the back of the store, according to VCSO.
Hope remained inside the store while deputies gave him verbal commands to step outside. He complied with the deputies and was detained in handcuffs without further incident.
While speaking with investigators, Hope stated that he held the second employee because he was “trying to think of a better escape plan,” according to VCSO.
Hope was placed under arrest and booked into Volusia County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with two counts of armed robbery, written threats to kill, armed kidnapping, false imprisonment of an adult, and petit theft.