In the latest wild event occurring in the state of Florida, Elijah Shelton, 24, was arrested on Friday and booked into Okaloosa County Jail. According to WKRG, the Santa Rosa County Sherriff’s Office not only accused him of committing a bank robbery but also using a taxi cab as his getaway car both to and from the scene.
The Synovus Bank robbery occurred on Friday morning in Navarre, located about 40 miles east of Pensacola, Florida. Police say Shelton ordered a taxi from a local cab service to the bank and demanded cash once inside.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson told WKRG about the alleged course of events, “Elijah Shelton, who after this will be referred to as ‘the genius,’ decides he wants to rob a bank in Santa Rosa County. Normally, you grab a fast car so you can get away and everything. He calls a cab to his house.”
According to WKRG, Johnson also alleged that Shelton left in the taxi and was dropped off at his Niceville, Florida home, making away with $8,300.
About the taxi cab getaway car and the quick trace back to Shelton, Johnson told the news outlet, “Needless to say we apprehended him pretty quickly. We haven’t recovered the money but we definitely recovered him so that’s all that matters.”
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Shelton faces charges for grand theft, drug possession and robbery. Police concluded that the taxi driver didn’t intentionally aid him in the bank robbery. Johnny Bartell, the unknowing getaway driver and owner of Johnny On The Spot Taxi, spoke with WEAR-TV in Pensacola about the ordeal.
“I think he actually intended to rob the bank on Thursday because he called Thursday and I couldn’t get to him. He called back and set an appointment for nine o’clock Friday morning,” Bartell told the Florida news outlet. “He didn’t act nervous at all. He was as cool as he could be and said he just went in to make a deposit.”
Shelton’s bond was set at $262,000. No word yet on when he’s due in court.
