Black Friday Beall's Robbery Suspect In Custody

A Sarasota man wanted for the Black Friday Beall's Outlet robbery is now in custody of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Donald Simon, 36, of 5375 Skyline Place, Sarasota, is charged with robbery with a deadly weapon and is being held on $100,000 bond for the Nov. 23 robbery of the Beall's Outlet, 4084 Cattleman Road, according to the sheriff's office.

Witnesses told deputies that a man walked into the store where he pointed a knife at employees and demanded cash from the register, according to the sheriff's office. 

Crime Stoppers received several tips from the public that it was Simon after area media published a surveillance video, according to the sheriff's office.

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Detectives interviewed Simon's neighbors, family and close friends to confirm  Simon was the man threatening Beall's employees and customers, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Simon had been hiding at an unknown location and contacted friends and family to get money to flee the area, but he was taken into custody Thursday afternoon by the Fugitive Apprehension Unit when he returned to his home on Skyline Place, according to the sheriff's office.

Simon has a lengthy criminal history that includes more than a dozen arrests for crimes including kidnapping, drug possession and burglary, according to court records.