Three Arrested After Overnight Search for Robbery Suspect

FLAGLER COUNTY, FL -- Police say they have caught not only the robbery suspect who eluded deputies in Volusia and Flagler counties overnight, but also two people they say helped him along the way.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the suspect, Anthony Kilner, has made threats to kill law enforcement officers, and was wanted for robbery with a deadly weapon.

Last night, deputies tried to stop him with stop-sticks in Volusia County, but he drove around them in what deputies believe to have been a stolen car.

Kilner abandoned the vehicle and ran off into the woods near I-95 and U.S. 1, close to the Flagler-Volusia county line.

Eight units from Volusia County, several from Flagler, and three K-9 units joined in the search, as did a helicopter from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

This morning around 10, authorities caught up with Kilner in the Plantation Bay development in Southern Flagler County, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies say security guards saw him walking from the woods. When deputies arrived, Kilner told them he was the man they were after.

"I congratulate the security officers for their vigilance. This was an important arrest. This man had made statements that he was not afraid to kill law enforcement officers, so he was obviously dangerous. We maintained a very tight watch over the search area and he knew he had no where to go," said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming.

Kilner is being held in Flagler County, but will also face charges in Volusia County.

Shortly after 1 a.m., two other people were arrested after investigators determined they were helping Kilner avoid arrest.

They are Jami Wilson, 19, and Matthew Lewis, 21, and they face charges of accessory after the fact to armed robbery. Police say Wilson is Kilner's girlfriend.

Deputy Injured in Chase

A deputy from St. Johns County who went to help in the chase near the Volusia-Flagler county line crashed his patrol car while driving around a turn on U.S. 1.

Deputy Michael W. Butler, 31, suffered some minor bruising and went to Flagler Hospital for treatment. His K-9 partner is fine.

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