May 4, 2009
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

TWO SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING ATTACK NEAR ORANGE CITY

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has detained two suspects in an attack near Orange City early Monday morning. Deputies are still investigating in an effort to determine what prompted the confrontation. The victim, 28-year-old Aaron Wells, was airlifted by Sheriff’s Office helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach with what originally were thought to be stab wounds. However, doctors at the hospital found no sign of stab wounds. The victim, though, was beaten by his attackers and was treated and then released from the hospital.

Deputies were dispatched to 990 Liskeard Ave. after receiving a 911 call about the attack at 12:03 a.m. Responding deputies located the victim walking down the street. Wells said he had been beaten by two men with bandanas on their faces who had come knocking and then pulled him outside after he opened the door. He said they punched and kicked him and tried to stab him. Wells turned over his wallet to his attackers after they demanded money from him. He sustained injuries to his back, pain in his midsection and lacerations to his left hand that may have occurred when he tried to fend off the knife.. Wells’ 24-year-old girlfriend was also home during the attack, but wasn’t injured. His wallet was later found in the street, with about $15 missing.

Deputies captured one of the suspects, 18-year-old Ryker Schell, walking in the neighborhood at 12:18 a.m. He briefly ran from deputies and is initially being charged with resisting arrest without violence. After setting up a perimeter with patrol and K-9 units, the second suspect -- 21-year-old Kyle Bell -- was located about 40 minutes later. Bell, who sustained a bite from a K-9 unit during his capture, was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach on two open warrants -- one for a probation violation and the other for being a principal to home invasion/robbery with a firearm. Investigators are still sorting out the facts from Monday’s attack before filing charges.