Vero Beach Crime Blotter: March 14

Man charged after assaulting lounge employee, stealing cash and vehicle

WEST VERO CORRIDOR — A man was jailed after deputies said he held a 79-year-old Fire Vape and Lounge employee at knifepoint, severely beat the worker, then stole $150 from the cash register. The suspect also stole the employee's car keys and took off in the man's Chevrolet Malibu, reports show. "(The employee's) left eye sustained severe damage to the point where it was swollen shut," deputies said in the arrest affidavit. Andrew John Amo, 36, who deputies described as homeless, was charged with robbery with a weapon, kidnapping another person, grand theft auto, trespassing, grand theft more than $750, resisting officer without violence and battery on a person 65 years of age or older. Amo was held Tuesday at ...

Phone, clothing left behind helps police nab Mulligan’s robbery suspect

VERO BEACH — A phone with text messages and calls to a getaway driver and a Mulligan's employee, along with DNA extracted from a mask, helped detectives make an arrest in the armed robbery of a beachside restaurant that occurred in mid-August. Officers said the suspect left behind his phone, mask, and other items during his escape. After the robbery, the suspect met up with the Mulligan's employee at a barbecue in Gifford, reports show. Police on Wednesday arrested Sederick Maurice Upton, 43, of the 2400 block of 42nd Street, Gifford, on charges of robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping or false imprisonment and burglary with assault. Upton was held Saturday at the Indian River ...

Sheriff: Community helps solve cases in attempted abductions

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The tips kept coming in. There were calls. There was even a close-up photo of a person deputies would connect to at least two attempted abductions of two women. The help from residents, deputies say, helped them nab the suspect: a 13-year-old Pointe West resident. Wednesday, dozens of people gathered at the gazebo in the neighborhood to hear Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers give an update on the events, which happened not far from 16th Street and 74th Avenue. "The community provided us the photo which helped us solve this case. It made a massive difference," Flowers said.  "We were able to get on him right away, track him and get him into custody." The ...