DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Volusia County Sheriff’s investigators found the man they say is responsible for the Monday morning armed robbery of a taxi cab driver. Dale Quatto, 32, was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with armed robbery and kidnapping. He was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach with $100,000 bond.
The victim allegedly picked Quatto up at Daytona’s Last Call bar, which is where investigators started their search for the suspect. Using descriptions provided by the victim and another cab driver who had refused to transport the suspect, investigators watched the bar’s surveillance video and found what they believe is a likely match amongst the patrons. The image was shown to both cab drivers who confirmed that was the suspect.
During the robbery, Quatto allegedly used tape to secure the victim to the cab’s steering wheel. When he was finished, he said “This should slow you down. I can’t go back to jail.” That statement, along with the suspect’s tattoos seen on both of his arms, helped investigators attach a name to the video image. Quatto had been released from Florida State Prison in June. Deputies then canvassed the area and spotted Quatto walking on Derbyshire Road near its intersection with Deneece Terrace at about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon.
During an interview with investigators, Quatto initially claimed to have been in Orlando at the time of the robbery. However, when confronted with the bar’s surveillance video he still refused to admit he had taken a cab when he left the bar, saying that his mother had picked him up. Investigators talked with his mother and say that she said she hasn’t been in contact with him in a while and didn’t pick him up from the bar.
PHOTO: Volusia County Jail
