A Lake Alfred man is behind bars following the early-morning robbery at the Winter Haven Garden Inn & Suites.

On December 28, 2021 at approximately 2:06 a.m., a 9-1-1 call was received from the night clerk at the Winter Haven Garden Inn & Suites located at 1150 3rd St. SW in Winter Haven. The clerk was hiding in a back room after a male came to the lobby window, that is used at night, pointed a long object that appeared to be a firearm and demanded money.

As the clerk was on the phone with 9-1-1, Winter Haven officers arriving on scene saw 57 year-old Bruce Wayne Nelomes (Everett St., Lake Alfred, FL) walking through the Mobile Gas Station parking lot directly next to the motel property.

As officers attempted to speak with Nelomes, he started running while carrying a cash register drawer and a backpack. Officers used their agency-issued electronic control device (Taser), which took effect and Nelomes was taken into custody.

Nelomes had a black metal pipe, a backpack that was from behind the counter at the motel along with the cash register drawer and a screwdriver-wrench hybrid tool.

Nelomes was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with Robbery with a Weapon (F1), Possession of Burglary Tools (F3) and Resisting an Officer W/O Violence (M1).

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