A 56-year-old man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after he was accused of robbing a local gas station at gunpoint and stealing approximately $165 worth of cigars.
On Wednesday, an MCSO corporal and multiple deputies responded to the Circle K gas station located at 17980 N Highway 441 in Reddick in reference to an armed robbery that had just occurred.
Upon arrival, the corporal interviewed two convenience store employees/victims who provided corroborating statements, and the deputies viewed the store’s video surveillance footage, according to the MCSO report.
Both victims told the corporal that they were outside the convenience store when they observed the male suspect, later identified as David Wayne Navarro, approaching the gas station shortly before 5 a.m. The report stated that one of the victims entered the convenience store and walked out of sight to the back of the store, and Navarro and the second victim entered the store moments later.
The second victim began interacting with Navarro as a potential customer. When the second victim approached the counter, Navarro allegedly displayed a revolver in his right hand, and he demanded “all of the cigars,” according to the MCSO report.
According to the second victim, Navarro was calm during the incident and advised that he “did not want to hurt anyone.” The second victim proceeded to hand Navarro approximately eight cartons of Cigarillo cigars in two plastic grocery bags. The MCSO report stated that the first victim emerged from the back of the store at this time, and Navarro fled from the store on foot.
An MCSO deputy was canvassing the area when Navarro was observed walking northbound on N Highway 441, just north of Highway 318 and the gas station. The MCSO report stated that Navarro matched the suspect that was viewed on the convenience store’s surveillance footage, and he also matched the description that was provided by both victims.
The MCSO report stated that after being read his Miranda rights, Navarro admitted that he had committed the robbery. He claimed that he was “struggling to breathe” due to a medical condition, and he had gone to the convenience store to take the cigars because they “help him breathe.”
During the post-Miranda interview, Navarro stated that the revolver was not loaded, and this was confirmed by the deputies when they retrieved the firearm. Navarro stated that he was “partially hoping he would get arrested” so he could go to jail for medical treatment, since the hospital discharged him on numerous prior occasions without helping him feel better, according to the MCSO report.
Navarro was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $50,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for robbery with a firearm.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 10, according to jail records.