An arrest has been made in a November 5, 2024 Babson Park case regarding the armed robbery and attempted murder of a woman.
Anthony Tillman (DOB 2/27/1985) of Babson Park was arrested in connection with the case and charged with the “criminal act of robbery with a firearm, and attempted murder,” according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office report. The report of probable cause reads as reported below.
The following is a redacted, but unedited portion of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law.
The Lake Wales Daily does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions. A suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.) :
“On November 5, 2024, I responded to REDACTED regarding an armed robbery. Upon arrival, I met with Detective Simmons (#7737), who informed me that the victim had been taken to Lake Wales Hospital for treatment and had since been released.
“I made contact with the victim, REDACTED (W/F, 54 YOA), and conducted a sworn recorded interview.
“According to the victim, on November 4, 2024, at approximately 2:00 PM, she left her residence to meet her REDACTED REDACTED, to discuss how to exit her REDACTED with her REDACTED Anthony Tillman (B/M, 39 YOA). Later that evening (exact time unknown), she and Antonio drove to “AJ Convenience Store.” When they arrived, REDACTED noticed both suspects Anthony Tillman and Leslie Dias (H/F, 23 YOA), pulling up to the store. The victim stated that when she saw the suspects, she took off.
“Later, the suspect called her, reassured her that everything was okay and said they just needed to talk it over, asking her to come home.
“On 11/5/2024 at approximately 0100 hrs., the victim arrives home and sees both suspects inside. As soon as she walks in, Anthony punches her in the head, causing her to fall to the ground. Once on the ground, Anthony begins to kick her repeatedly all over her body. The victim grabs her phone to call 911, but Anthony takes it from her, preventing her from calling for help. Anthony retrieves a black-hand gun and demand that she give him her money. Anthony then hands the gun to Leslie, and Leslie demands the victim, hands over the keys to her car or she will ‘pistol whip’ her. The victim complied in an attempt to stop the beating. Both suspects then removed two gold chains, $60-$80 in cash, and a gold bracelet from the victim’s person.
“The victim then manages to escape into the bathroom and close the door. Anthony then tries to open the door, but she tries to prevent him by putting all her body weight onto the door. The door is a sliding bathroom door, and the suspect managed to open it enough to put his hand and gun through. Anthony then attempted to shoot the victim but was unsuccessful due to the victim moving her head just before the shot went off. The victim stated that the bullet went past the left side of her head.
“The victim began screaming for REDACTED, REDACTED. REDACTED arrived and observed Anthony to be in possession of a black-hand gun tucked in the right side of his waistband. Anthony demanded that REDACTED tell the victim to leave, or he would shoot her (REDACTED), the victim, and their dogs. Anthony then remove the handgun from his waistband and pointed it at REDACTED as a way to motivate her to get the victim out of the apartment. REDACTED walked the victim and her dog out of the residence. As REDACTED made it outside, she believed that the victim was inside her car. However, she later learned that the victim had fled the area with the dog.
“According to the victim, after Leslie took her car keys, she (Leslie) got in the car and begin to help some young kids get their vehicle out of the ditch. The victim advised that her dog was in the backseat of the vehicle, and due to the threat to kill the dog, she jumped into the car to retrieve her dog. While in the car, she observed Anthony walk towards her while wiping down the black handgun. She attempted to leave, but could not because the doors had the child safety locks activated. Anthony enters the backseat with her and forces her, by way of a threat to cause her harm, to give him the code to the CashApp on her phone.
“The victim stated the out of fear, she complied with all demands.
“The victim advised that she and the dog climbed over to the front seat out the door and fled the scene.
“Based on the personal relationship between the victim, and both suspects, I showed have the victim photographs of Anthony and Leslie, which she could possibly identify as the suspects.
“Based on my investigation, I am able to determine that Anthony committed the criminal act of robbery with a firearm, and attempted murder.
“I was also able to determine that Leslie committed the criminal act of robbery with a firearm.”
Editors note: Brian Bruchey, Public Information Officer for Polk County Sheriff’s Office, advises that as of November 15, 2024, he is not aware of any arrest of Leslie Dias at this point in time.
