A Leesburg senior citizen was knocked unconscious when he was robbed at Berry Park.
The 65-year-old-man was talking to a female friend near the pavilion in Berry Park a little after 4 p.m. Jan. 20. His friend asked the senior citizen for some money and he took out his wallet to give her some cash, according to arrest reports from the Leesburg Police Department.
A 6 foot 1 inch man, later identified as 48-year-old Willie Lee Jones struck the victim in the head, knocking him to the ground. Jones was joined by another man, later identified as 25-year-old Zachery D. Delacruz, in striking the victim. Witnesses told police officers that they saw both Jones and Delacruz strike the victim while he was on the ground and take money from his wallet.
Jones was seen fleeing the park after the attack and was arrested a short distance away. He told the officers that he hit the senior citizen because the older man was making sexual gestures to his girlfriend. He said he did not steal anything from the victim. Jones said the other man also struck the victim and stole money from the victim’s wallet. He denied running away from the scene with Delacruz even though his girlfriend and other witnesses told the police that they ran away together. Jones was charged with strong arm robbery and resisting arrest. He was taken to the Lake County Jail where bond was set at $11,000.
A Leesburg detective was assigned to the case and reviewed the incident reports of the officers at the scene. One witness said the younger man was called Zachery and that she thought his last name started with a D and that he lived behind the Family Discount Mart on Tuskegee Street. The detective determined that Delacruz lived on that street and fit the description given by the witnesses. He prepared a photo line up and a witness identified Delacruz as the man who struck the victim and took his money.
The detective obtained an arrest warrant charging Delacruz with strong arm robbery.
Delacruz was arrested on the warrant Tuesday evening and was transported to the Lake County Jail where he posted $10,000 bond.
