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Alert Jail Employee Catches Attempted Robbery Suspect
November 23, 2010
An off-duty Escambia County Sheriff’s Office employee assigned to the jail came to the aid of a robbery victim over the weekend and held the suspect until deputies arrived to take him to the jail.
The jail employee, Ronnie Whiddon, was walking into the Tom Thumb at 4805 Mobile Highway around 6:30 Saturday morning when he witnessed an altercation between a taxi cab driver and his passenger. Whiddon immediately recognized it was a robbery attempt and came to the aid of Darrel Vincent, 46, of Pensacola, who was driving the taxi. The passenger and suspect was later identified as Melvin Tyrone Dixon, 44, of Pensacola.
Dixon (pictured) had called Yellow Cab and was picked up by Vincent near Fairfield Drive and South Dakota Drive. When Dixon entered the taxi he pulled a knife on Vincent and demanded money and Vincent’s ATM card, according to the Sheriff’s Office. When Vincent told Dixon that he didn’t have cash on him, Dixon ordered him to drive to Regions Bank.
Vincent told deputies that as he passed the Tom Thumb he noticed a group of people standing in the parking lot. Vincent quickly turned into the lot where he was able to unarm Dixon and throw the knife out the window of the taxi. Whiddon hurriedly went to the aid of Vincent and held Dixon until patrol deputies arrived.
Dixon was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping-false imprisonment and robbery. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail and was being held on a $25,000 bond.
Comments
4 Responses to “Alert Jail Employee Catches Attempted Robbery Suspect”
REGARDING:
” where he was able to unarm Dixon ”
Unarm? Interesting word.
Dumb to go into a life of crime, never ends well.
Smart of Vincent to get into a crowd, less likely to be robbed and/or killed that way. I wish more realized that.
Good of Whiddon.
David for thoughtful action
Looooong criminal record.Lock him up and throw away the key.
So is the picture of Mr. Whiddon or Mr. Dixon?
Way to go mr Whiddon..Awsummmm