[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 02/11/21]
TAVARES, Florida — A man who gave an employee a “bad vibe” has been arrested for the armed robbery at an internet café last month, that was the site of a well-known bar for many years, according to an arrest affidavit.
Steven Andrew Taylor, 36, is being held at the Lake County Jail on no bond for two counts of attempted felony murder and one count each of armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with a witness after he is alleged to have robbed Irene’s, 14942 West Old Highway 441, Tavares at gunpoint before firing at least one shot at the employees as they ran after Taylor when he left the building, according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office report.
Taylor, who was described to LCSO as “acting suspicious” the night of the robbery, is accused of demanding money from a male and female employee as he held a small gun around 7 p.m. Jan. 31. Taylor fled the scene with a stack of $1 bills totaling nearly $600, according to an arrest affidavit, and the employees chased after him until Taylor fired a shot and escaped.
Taylor was captured on video surveillance and LCSO believed he was the suspect the night of the robbery, according to the affidavit. Taylor had just been released from LCJ the week before the robbery and lives in the same block as the café.
LCSO questioned Taylor, who denied being at Irene’s, and he provided an alibi that three witnesses failed to corroborate. One witness told LCSO Taylor admitted to the robbery and offered him $100 to tell law enforcement he was with Taylor. Taylor is also alleged to have told the witness he “was going to get away with it.”
An LCSO detective met with Taylor at a local barbershop Feb. 4, where he got a new haircut and beard trim and Taylor told the detective all three witnesses were lying and denied attempting to bribe one of them for an alibi, according to the affidavit.
Taylor was taken into custody and transported to LCJ, where he is currently being held on no bond.
_______________________________
Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
