Police seek 3rd suspect in mayor carjacking

Police are still looking for a third suspect in a carjacking that occurred early Saturday morning where Mayor Jeff Triplett was the victim.
According to police, Triplett was approaching the residence of his Campaign Manager Dan Ping on Chapman Avenue around 2:15 a.m. Saturday morning. While outside he was approached by three men, two of which had guns.
Triplett told police one stuck a gun to his ear and another stuck a gun in his face. Triplett was ordered to the ground and one suspect told him “I will kill you.”
Ping, hearing a commotion outside, opened his door to the incident. During a 911 call he told the dispatcher: “A buddy of mine just pulled up to visit with me. He got a gun pointed at him in his face and his car robbed… When I walked outside they stuck a gun in my face.”
During the incident the three suspects made off with Triplett’s wallet which had $300, his license, credit cards, a bank card, and his City of Sanford Mayor’s badge. Afterward the three fled in Triplett’s Mercedes Benz ML 350.
Triplett was able to tell police what direction the suspects headed and they were quickly picked up near 25th Street and Summerlin Avenue, near the Sanford Airport.
The three crashed the vehicle into a ditch and attempted to flee on foot. Two of the suspects were apprehended. A third remains at large, but police have an idea who he is.
One juvenile was charged with robbery – carjacking with a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Jermaine Jacques Horne, 18, of Deltona, was charged with robbery – carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Horne remains in the Seminole County jail with no bond.
Following the event Triplett released a statement saying, “Being a victim of a crime is unnerving, yet it was reassuring to witness both speed and diligence from the Sanford Police Department. It is disheartening when this type of crime takes place in the City of Sanford. I encourage the community, its businesses, and the Police Department to continue to work together and stop this type of violence.”
Triplett believes the incident was a random act.
Police are still seeking any information from the public to help locate the third suspect.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact CrimeLine at 800 423-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimeline.org. Calls made to CrimeLine remain anonymous, and tips to CrimeLine that lead to solving a felony case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 dollars.
 

- Rachel Delinski, Herald Publisher/Editor, RDelinski@MySanfordHerald.com