February 21, 2008
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

DELTONA CELL PHONE STORE ROBBERY SOLVED

A teen already behind bars for robbing a DeBary convenience store was recently served with another warrant charging him in the robbery of a Deltona cell phone business. As the investigation unfolded, it was discovered that Samuel Rivera had apparently held up the store Jan. 22 with a bottle of cold medicine. It was tucked into his pocket and Rivera implied to his victim that it was a gun. The store clerk took no chances and handed over cash from the register. However, Rivera’s arrest for an earlier robbery also broke the cell phone store case because of similar suspect descriptions and Rivera’s propensity to brag about his deeds. 

The investigative team at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s DeBary district office had arrested Rivera Jan. 31 for the robbery of a Kangaroo Express Mart on Jan. 9. Rivera had been identified as a suspect when investigators were tipped off that he had bragged about committing the crime. Sgt. Virgil Ford then heard about the Deltona district office’s investigation into the robbery Jan. 22 of the Metro PCS, 2820 Howland Blvd. He told Deltona investigators Ryan Mills and Robert Rahn that the suspect description sounded a lot like Rivera. 

Rahn then presented his robbery victim with a photo lineup that included Rivera, and the victim picked him out. Investigators also interviewed some of Rivera’s associates who said they had heard Rivera take credit for the Metro PCS robbery and brag that he had done it with a bottle of cold medicine. The 18-year-old’s desire to show off for his friends once again proved to be his undoing. Rivera, who was still in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach following his first arrest, was served with a warrant signed by circuit court judge Hubert Grimes on Feb. 14 charging the defendant with robbery. 

Previous news releases for reference:

Arrest in convenience store robbery:
http://www.volusia.org/sheriff/press/080031.htm 

Cell phone story robbed:
http://www.volusia.org/sheriff/press/2008%20
Press%20Releases/January/080015.htm 

Convenience story robbed:
http://www.volusia.org/sheriff/press/2008%20
Press%20Releases/January/080005.htm