INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 54-year-old man tried to rob a Burger King, robbed a Cumberland Farms and then led deputies on a high-speed chase in a stolen car Saturday morning before he was final captured, Indian River County deputies said.
Deputies plan to charge Dallas Ray Baldwin with attempted robbery and felony fleeing and eluding. Sebastian police plan to charge him with armed robbery, carjacking, battery and more.
Deputies got a 911 call from the Burger King at 6:40 a.m. Saturday that reported a man, later identified as Baldwin, implied he was in possession of a weapon and demanded money.
No money was stolen and no weapon was reported seen at the restaurant, located at 8680 U.S. 1, Wabasso.
Then, Baldwin left in his vehicle and went to the Cumberland Farms at the corner of Barber Street and Sebastian Boulevard.
Baldwin walked in the store, claimed he had a firearm and stole an undisclosed amount of cash, said Sebastian police spokesman Commander John Blackledge.
Sebastian police said Baldwin then went to a man who was in his driveway on Landsdowne Drive, beat him up and stole his car.
Baldwin was then seen at 11:17 a.m. in the stolen Kia Soul near U.S. 1 and 45th Street. He fled from deputies and then traveled north on U.S. 1, reaching speeds of 99 mph, deputies said.
After making several U-turns, Baldwin traveled south on U.S. 1 and ran over stop sticks deployed by deputies at 85th Street. The stolen car lost air in all four tires and came to a stop in the 8400 block of U.S. 1.
Baldwin was taken into custody and transported to Indian River Medical Center for treatment of a self-inflicted cut to his face. Deputies said the injury occurred when he hit his head against the screen in the back of a patrol car.
Deputies said that while Baldwin was fleeing, he was pointing his finger to his head in what was believed to be “an attempt to indicate his intention of committing ‘suicide by cop.'”
Suicide by cop is the act of intentionally threatening a law enforcement officer in an attempt to receive a deadly force response.
Deputies said immediately after his arrest, Baldwin asked deputies, “Why didn’t you just shoot me?”
Baldwin is a habitual violent career offender and has addresses listed in Fellsmere and Sebastian. Witnesses with additional information are asked to contact the Sebastian Police Department at 772-589-5233.