DELTONA -- The victim of a Sunday afternoon liquor store robbery in Deltona got a good look at the bandit and his getaway vehicle, giving Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies a good enough description to find Joseph Fine less than half a mile away, agency spokesman Gary Davidson said.
"Fine was found with the stolen cash tucked into his shirt pocket and he admitted to committing the robbery at knifepoint," Davidson said.
No one was injured during the robbery.
The robbery happened at 3:07 p.m. at the Publix Supermarket Liquor Store, 2783 Elkcam Blvd.
The 19-year-old employee told responding deputies that he was at the store counter when Fine came into the store but then quickly left, Davidson said.
A few moments later Fine re-entered, this time carrying a folder. He walked up to the employee and asked where a certain type of alcohol could be found in the store. Fine then pulled a large kitchen knife from the folder, pointed it at the employee and demanded all the money in the register. The teen handed over several hundred dollars, and Fine fled. The employee then activated the store’s holdup alarm and he saw Fine get into a truck in the parking lot and drive away.
Deputy Tyler Becker was canvassing the area after the robbery and spotted a truck matching the description give by the victim. The truck was at the intersection of Elkcam Boulevard and Florida Drive. Becker followed the vehicle as it turned south onto Florida Drive.
A short time later the truck made a turn onto Danforth Avenue without stopping for a stop sign. Becker then pulled the truck over and called for back up. Fine was the driver and lone occupant of the truck. He admitted to committing the robbery and was arrested, the sheriff's spokesman said. The 49-year-old Lake Helen resident was charged with robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.