A 32-year-old transient was arrested Thursday and charged in Tuesday's lunchtime armed robbery of King Restaurant in Ormond Beach, according to a news release from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Since Tuesday, sheriff's detectives have been searching for the suspect vehicle shown on surveillance video from the restaurant robbery.
Detectives learned Thursday about 1:45 p.m. that Dwayne Maynard was wanted for committing an armed robbery at a Melbourne pharmacy earlier in the day.
A Volusia County sheriff's deputy spotted a vehicle matching the one used in Tuesday's robbery at King Restaurant. Deputy Jim Greene saw the vehicle — a 2002 silver Mitsubishi 4-door with a rear spoiler — and Maynard, the registered owner of the car, at the Econo Lodge at U.S. 1 and I-95 in Ormond Beach.
Maynard was arrested without incident and interviewed at the sheriff's district office in Ormond Beach. The suspect is linked to at least three armed robberies in Central Florida — two pharmacy robberies in Brevard County and the Ormond Beach restaurant robbery. Detectives expect additional charges in this investigation.
Late Thursday, detectives were executing search warrants of Maynard's car and hotel room, where several pieces of evidence were found including 122 prescription narcotic tablets.
Maynard faces three felony charges in the Ormond Beach robbery: robbery with a firearm, use of a firearm or deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, and grand theft.
Detectives say Maynard entered King Restaurant, 3768 Roscommon Drive, during the lunch rush from an open rear door. He pointed a black handgun at the husband and wife co-owners of the restaurant and demanded all the money in the cash register, about $700.
Maynard is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail without bail. In addition, he is charged with a parole violation for a burglary in a separate case.