A Florida man suspected of a string of armed robberies in Collier County is behind bars after a daring pizza parlor heist turned into a high-speed chase Wednesday night.
Christopher Arrick Townsend, 37, is accused of robbing a Little Caesar’s Pizza in Immokalee at gunpoint before leading Collier County Sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit that ended in neighboring Hendry County.
“Thanks to good old-fashioned police work by detectives, technology in our Real-time Operations Center, and collaboration with our area law enforcement partners, we were able to identify a suspect and make an arrest,” said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.
READ: Wrong-Way Driver In Florida Triggers Deadly Chain-Reaction Crashes On I-95
The robbery occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Townsend allegedly entered the pizza parlor wearing all black clothing, a ski mask, and gloves, and carrying a bag. He then pointed a gun at an employee and demanded cash. After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, he fled the scene.
Detectives linked Townsend to the robbery and five other armed robberies in Collier County, as well as several more in neighboring counties. A white Mini Cooper seen at all the Collier County robbery scenes was key to identifying Townsend as the suspect.
Following the Little Caesar’s robbery, deputies tracked the Mini Cooper and attempted a traffic stop. The female driver exited the vehicle, but Townsend jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off, leading deputies on a 10-mile chase.
READ: NORAD Scrambles F-16s To Intercept 3 Aircraft Breaching Mar-a-Lago, Florida Airspace
The pursuit ended in Hendry County, where Townsend was apprehended. A young child was discovered in the backseat of the vehicle.
Evidence found in the Mini Cooper linked Townsend to the Little Caesar’s robbery. He is currently in custody in Hendry County awaiting transfer to Collier County, where he faces charges of armed robbery and fleeing and eluding. Additional charges are expected in connection with the other robberies.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.