Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Monte Deaundre Ellis, a 21-year-old Live Oak resident, is wanted by the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) in connection to several armed robberies that occurred over the past weekend in the county.
According to the SCSO, Ellis reportedly brandished a handgun in the first incident, in which he lured his victim to a location within the Live Oak city limits and robbed him at gunpoint. On Sunday evening, Dec. 4, Ellis was reported to have held another victim at gunpoint and stole his vehicle from an auto parts store in Live Oak.
During this incident, a juvenile co-defendant was unable to enter the vehicle quickly enough, and was left to flee on foot while Ellis reportedly sped away. SCSO deputies and Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) patrol units captured the juvenile a few blocks away from the scene. Ellis, however, was able to escape in the victim's vehicle, which he discarded off of Goldkist Boulevard.
The SCSO states Ellis continued his spree at a convenience store located on US Highway 90, just west of the Live Oak city limits. Here, Ellis reportedly attempted to take another vehicle from a third victim, once again at gunpoint. The victim, however, was able to flee back into the convenience store, which caused Ellis to flee on foot.
SCSO deputies and investigators, along with LOPD officers, were able to obtain enough information from video surveillance in areas of the crimes, as well as information from witnesses, to obtain an arrest warrant on Ellis for the crime of attempted armed carjacking for the incident that took place at the convenience store. Both the LOPD and SCSO are continuing to investigate these cases. The SCSO states the LOPD does have additional pending charges against Ellis.
The SCSO advises that Ellis is considered armed and dangerous. Those with information on his whereabouts are urged to contact the SCSO Dispatch Center at (386) 362-2222 or Suwannee County Crime Stoppers at (386) 208-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous.