On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at approximately 3:20pm, the Auburndale Police Department responded to the Pizza Hut located at 203 Magnolia Avenue in Auburndale in reference to an in progress armed robbery. The suspect left prior to officers arriving on-scene. The Pizza Hut surveillance video depicted the suspect displaying a handgun during the attempted robbery.
Auburndale police officers and detectives conducted a thorough investigation that developed leads on the suspects whereabouts. The Auburndale Police Department, along with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Units, responded to the possible location. The suspect was located sitting on the steps at the rear of the residence. The suspect, Steve Dwight Cason, admitted to going to the Auburndale Pizza Hut and asking for money. Cason denied having a gun.
Steve Dwight Cason, 57, is listed as a Career Offender on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s website. According to the FDLE website, Cason’s previous convictions are, Robbery W/firearm, Robbery N/firearm, Grand Theft, and Kidnap.
The teamwork of the Auburndale Patrol Division, the Auburndale Criminal Investigation Unit, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, did an outstanding job locating, apprehending, and taking a violent felon off the street. Cason was charged with Attempted Robbery and Aggravated Assault
