The man was suspected in connection with the robbery of a Cumberland Farms, a carjacking and attempted robbery of a Burger King.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Deputies arrested a man in connection with a robbery, an attempted robbery and a carjacking after he led them on a high speed chase on U. S. 1 in a stolen Kia Soul, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Dallas Ray Baldwin, 54, was taken into custody at about noon, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Thom Raulen said in a news release.
Baldwin’s charges were not yet made public. Raulen said he had listed addresses in Sebastian and Fellsmere.
At about 6:40 a.m., a man believed to be Baldwin tried to rob a Burger King, at 8680 U. S. 1. He implied he had a weapon, but none was seen, Raulen said. He did not receive any cash and left in a vehicle.
About half an hour later, Baldwin parked that vehicle on Clearmont Street in Sebastian and walked into a Cumberland Farms gas station, at 957 Sebastian Boulevard, according to Sebastian Police Commander John Blackledge.
He again claimed he had a weapon, but none was seen. He received an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot, Blackledge said.
Baldwin walked south past Clearmont Street, where his car was parked, to Landsdowne Drive, where he accosted a 75-year-old man in his garage attempting to get into a white Kia Soul. Blackledge said Baldwin physically assaulted the man and took the car.
At about 11:15 a.m., Baldwin was spotted near the intersection of U. S. 1 and 45th Street in the stolen vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
“He fled from deputies and traveled north on U. S. 1, reaching speeds of 99 mph,” Raulen said.
After several U-turns and driving in the opposite lane of traffic at times, Baldwin drove over stop sticks laid out by deputies at the intersection of U. S. 1 and 85th Street, according to Raulen.
“While Baldwin was fleeing, he was pointing his finger to his head in what was believed to be his attempt to indicate his intention of committing ‘suicide by cop,'” Raulen said.
All four tires lost air and the car stopped in the 8400 block of U. S. 1.
Blackledge said an officer performed a PIT maneuver, or Pursuit Intervention Technique, in which the police tap the back of a fleeing car, forcing it to abruptly turn sideways, causing the driver to lose control and stop.
“Why didn’t you just shoot me?” Raulen said Baldwin asked immediately after his arrest.
Baldwin was taken to Indian River Medical Center for a cut on his face, which deputies said he “incurred by striking his head against the plexiglass screen in the back of a patrol car.”
Baldwin was released from Florida State Prison in November 2016 after serving 14 years for aggravated battery and assault on law enforcement, robbery and cocaine possession, according to the Department of Correction.
Baldwin is listed as a habitual violent career offender, according to the sheriff’s office.
