LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — Deputies are asking for the public’s help to find an attempted armed robbery suspect in Polk County.

The sheriff’s office says the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Edner Dely of Dade City, is considered armed and dangerous. 

Deputies say Dely attempted an armed robbery against a taxi driver just after midnight on Monday at the Sunoco on West Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland.

The victim drove Dely from an office building in Dade City to a location in Lakeland and then to the Sunoco so he could get cash out from an ATM to pay the taxi driver.

While the taxi was stopped at the gas station, Dely got out and went to the ATM. When he returned, deputies say he pulled a small chrome handgun out of his pocket and demanded the victim give him everything.

“I heard a click. I didn’t know what it was and he showed me the gun and said, ‘if you don’t give me everything right now you have three seconds or I’ll shoot you,'” the cab driver said.

The driver told News Channel 8 the suspect ran off when he said he didn’t have anything.

“He got mad and he said a few choice words and he left.”

At that point the cab driver collapsed.

“I was shaking so bad I collapsed in the parking lot and they had EMS come check me out,” he said.

The cab driver had to pay half of the fair that he was stiffed, and had to take a night off work.

“I couldn’t even work last night. I’m scared to death of anybody I pick up now. I’m not sure who they are, or what their intentions are.”

Dely is described as a black male about 6’5″ and 280 pounds. He was wearing black shorts, a black hooded jacket and black sneakers at the time of the incident. His last known address is on Goldenrod Court in Dade City.

The sheriff’s office has issued an arrest warrant for attempted armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Dely has a criminal history that includes arrests for attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, displaying a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school and battery. He also has a previous felony conviction for armed burglary.

Anyone with information is asked to call (863) 298-6947 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.

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