Police chased and arrested a man Monday who is suspected of robbing a TD bank in Melbourne and attempting to rob a Subway sandwich shop.

Harrowing chase in Melbourne caught on police dashboard camera after Subway, bank heists


A 27-year-old Indialantic man will go before a judge later today on charges he attempted to rob a sandwich shop before holding up a bank for cash and then lead Melbourne police on a harried pursuit through the city, which was caught on video. It was also the latest arrest for Skyler Christian Awad, who spent time in state prison for a previous robbery charge.

Awad, tattooed with the words ‘Never Again,’ on his chest, was taken into custody Monday and charged with robbery, armed robbery, fleeing and eluding tampering with a witness, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and having no valid driver license, reports show. The arrest came as Melbourne police quickly moved to investigate what appeared to be the second of two heists reported in the city in less than the span of an hour. That second robbery took place at T.D. Bank, 1025 S. Babcock St. Police said the robber – described as having ‘scruffy’ facial hair’ -  walked into the bank branch and handed a clerk a note that read, “I demand all your money, don’t make me shoot you,” reports show.

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Awad, seen on dash cam video leading police on a car chase minutes later, swerving along the roadway before crashing into a pole and shearing it in half, told officers within moments of getting out of the wrecked car, ‘all this for a probation violation?” Melbourne police reported. Awad initially denied involvement in either of the botched robberies, at first telling detectives that he was at the beach until 9:30 a.m. before going to a doughnut shop and dropping a friend off to Melbourne High School.

Later, detectives showed Awad photographs from the bank video, prompting him to admit that he was at the bank attempting to “cash a personal check,” reports show. He then told detectives that he planned on harming himself at the beach because he violated a previous probation order and that he could not remember much of what transpired since that time, reports show.

The events unfolded about 9:15 a.m. Monday when police said Awad went to the Subway sandwich eatery at U.S. 1 and Eau Gallie Boulevard, a high traffic area that routinely has a heavy police presence. He walked into the store, poured himself a drink and handed the clerk, identified as Roseann Adams, a five dollar bill. He then told the clerk to ‘empty the rest of the register,’ reports show. Adams looked at the robber and asked, “are you sure you want to do this, you’re on camera,” reports show.

"He implied he had a weapon but none was displayed," Sadoff said. Adams then grabbed a phone beside the register and attempted to call 9-1-1 when the robber suddenly snatched it from her grip. Adams, who told police she feared for her safety, then got her cellphone and made the call to police. He then bolted out of the door, police said. Police later said Adams acted ‘courageously.’

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About 30 minutes later, police were alert to T.D. Bank. Police soon spotted the vehicle drive by Awad and quickly followed with lights and sirens blaring through neighborhoods and on busy streets. A nearby south Melbourne school, Stone Magnet, was placed on a law enforced ordered lock down for about three minutes as police surrounded Awad after he crashed his car into the pole while a number of spectators watched and filmed the scene with their cellphones.

Police also confirmed that he had an out-of-state warrant for his arrest. He also has a criminal history that includes charges such as burglary and robbery, police reported.

"The suspect walked into the bank, gave the clerk a note and implied that he had a weapon," said Lt. Steve Sadoff, a spokesman for the Melbourne Police Department, whose agency was still investigating a robbery attempt at the Subway Sandwich eatery at the corner of U.S. 1 and Eau Gallie Boulevard when the call came in.

Awad then led officers on a chase though south Melbourne and portions of Palm Bay. At one point, officers used stop sticks in a bid to puncture the tires. Police reports say Awad swerved toward the direction of an officer in an apparent attempt to strike her before a precision imbalance technique — or PIT maneuver — caused him to crash into the pole near a store on E. University Boulevard.

"The pursuit lasted a couple of miles. He just went in circles," Sadoff said. Awad was then arrested and taken to the Melbourne Police Department for further questioning. So far, police have not released a motive in the case. Awad was later booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex where he will go before a judge for a brief hearing today. He is being held without bond.

Contact Gallop at 321-242-3642,jdgallop@floridatoday.comand Twitter@JDGallop

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