It was nobody out here. I don't understand this shit at all. That was in my hand and he snatched it and shut it off. He snatched the bag out my hand. >> Officers rushed to what appeared to be an armed robbery at a Dollar Tree where an employee claimed a masked gunman stole thousands of dollars in bank deposits. But as detectives reviewed surveillance, tracked the timeline, and questioned the victim, they uncovered evidence suggesting the entire robbery had been staged and the person who called 911 became the prime suspect. >> Handgun? >> my hands. You can tell how I'm shaking. >> Did he touch the door or anything? >> No, he did not. And if I when I came to the door I saw I promise to God it was not nobody out here. It was nobody out here. I don't understand this shit at all. >> Yeah, they got they got video here. Do Do you have access to the cameras, ma'am? >> Um the district manager does. >> Okay, you don't. >> Miss Lucy is the district manager. She has it. >> Is there anybody that can come? >> one have the password is her. >> Okay, is would she come here now? >> I can try to call her. >> Yeah, try to call her. Okay. I started to get a little bit of a description from her, but I'll I'll get more of that. What initially appeared to be a violent robbery soon became a much larger investigation as detectives began reviewing the evidence. Ma'am, do you need to sit down and take a breath for a minute? So, what what the person look like? >> Sir, I don't know. I didn't see his face. He had on a mask. I promise to God he had on all black, sir. I just know that he was taller than me and I know that it was a male. It wasn't a female. It was a male because of the shape. >> Right. Wear an all black. Uh black pants, black shorts? >> It was black shorts. >> Was it um long sleeve shirt or short sleeve shirt? >> I'll call her off myself. >> Okay. Was it a long sleeve shirt or short sleeve shirt? >> It was um it it looked like if it I don't even know, sir. It's just all black. The shit happened so fucking fast. >> Now, was it a a hoodie or a mask? >> It it it covered everything. >> Okay. And was it like a like a toboggan kind of mask or was it some other kind of mask? >> I'm sorry. So, like a beanie with the holes cut out in it like a ski mask or was it more like a some other kind of mask? >> I have no idea. It just was all black and I couldn't see nothing. >> You could see his eyes? All right, go >> No, I didn't I didn't see I didn't see his eyes. Cuz like I said, I seen him when he ran away. That's how I know that it was a male and like his height. >> Right, right. >> I I didn't see him when I saw him. >> than you, you mean taller than you like me tall or just a little bit taller than you? >> Sir, he was standing over me. >> Okay. Was he >> He was standing over me. >> Did you catch if he was like skinny or muscular or fat? >> I have no idea. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. I'm just trying to get as much information I can so we can try to catch this guy. That's all. Did he have a deep voice or tall high thin voice? Did you catch that at all? Did he talk to you at all? >> No. >> No. 312. Uh best I can get on the description so far is somewhere between like 5'8" 6 ft tall, unknown build, wearing all black, black shorts, unknown style shirt but it was black, and uh some type of uh face covering mask on his on his head. Shit, my bad. I think he's going around the other way. Maybe he went through this gate. >> He was coming from >> Uh >> He got something immediately so I feel like the car was going over here. >> I don't know why he would run so fast. >> The guy's not going to come here. >> I never been through shit like this before. >> You're the only employee here at the time? >> Yes. >> Okay. This is Malisha, what's your address? >> 1121 Mesa Street, Clearwater, Florida, 33755. I'm about to give you my mom number. I'm calling her right now. >> Okay. Can you walk me through what happened again? >> I was getting ready to close up like I said, I always look because to make sure wasn't nobody out here. I locked out. I came out the door. Soon as I got ready to put the key in the door, it's like somebody just bam right in my back. >> So they he pushed you up against the up against the door? >> I I went up against it a little bit, yes. >> Okay. And then what? >> Oh, miss Lucy. And he he snatched the bag out my hand. She said no, and she just tested positive for COVID, so she can't come. >> Okay. >> She said she could have loss prevention. >> The robbery investigation was just beginning. What detectives uncovered next would completely change who they believed committed the crime. >> Here at the store, I was getting ready to close up and somebody approached me with a big guy. Yes, I'm just real shaken up because I haven't never been through nothing like this, and I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do. Yes, ma'am, I was taking them to the bank, three of them. Can I have one of your business cards for you to keep? >> Oh, I'll be Yeah, I'll be giving you all that before I go. Can I talk to her for a minute? >> He wants to talk to you. Hold on. >> Hello ma'am, this is Officer Starks with Clearwater Police Department. Hey, um so what's your name? Luc- Lucia? Oh, okay. So Lucy Aruda, and you're the manager here? >> District manager. >> Okay. Right, okay. And then so you you can't come here tonight and and she just said you got tested positive for COVID, so you're not uh you you you can't, period. Um today is Sunday. Would you have Would there be anybody here tomorrow during business hours that will have access to the cameras? Do you know who that would be? Through the process. Okay. All right. So if we get somebody here tomorrow a detective here tomorrow to to to uh gather this video, you'd be able to they could they'd be able to call you and you'd be able to walk them through getting in there and and uh and accessing that system. Okay. Okay, Ms. Lucy. Um well, get I hope you get to feeling better and uh and we'll get to we'll do what we can here, okay? >> This shit crazy, man. Then I got to come back and work all day again tomorrow from 12:00 to 9:30. They might have to find them somebody else. I'm tired of this. I'm not closing by myself no more. I don't give a fuck. >> So let's get back to you're locking the door and the guy pushes you into the door. >> I was locking the door and the guy he he he ran off with the gun and I went forward a little bit. >> Right. >> And like I said, the bag was in my hand and he snatched it and shut it off. >> Uh-huh. And so what what was in the What was in the bag? >> It was the deposits. >> Okay, what kind of bag was it? >> Regions. >> It was like a bank bag? >> Uh yes. >> Okay, one of those one of those zippered bank bags. Okay, from Regions. And it was a deposit. What was the deposit worth? >> three deposits. >> Three deposits. Do you Do you remember what the numbers on those were? >> Yes, cuz I write it down. >> Okay. And he never You said the suspect never touched the door? >> I swear to god. >> Did he say anything to you? >> I still want to print it you can. >> Okay. Did he Did he say anything to you? >> Nothing at all. >> Okay, he just snatched the bag out of your hand and took off. >> Yes. >> Which way did he take off? >> He went that way. >> Okay, so like northeast northwest? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. >> Um it was 726 18 598 69 842. >> $842 $8.42? >> $842. >> Okay, even. Um and these were checks or they were cash? >> Uh cash. Um I can even tell you how it was. Because we I to write everything down. >> Oh, like how many 20s, how many fives, that kind of thing? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> One of them got four ones >> And how long did it take for you to call us? >> I called you guys right away. Like I told the officer on the phone, I never called 911 before and it says that all lines are busy. I can show it to you. I was on hold for at least a minute before I was on the phone with them for 8 minutes, but I was on hold for at least 8 minutes. >> Right. Okay. >> At least a minute. >> Okay. Wait, what? What time did that show on your phone again? >> 8:26. >> 8:26. Okay. >> Over the next several days, detectives continued reviewing surveillance footage, comparing witness statements, and tracking the missing money. Instead of confirming the employees' account, the evidence began raising new questions. >> What's the What time >> I might start like 9:20 or sorry, 8:20. Now you got the IT professional here. Perfect. Oh, no, it's covered in like rain. You can't even really see anything. It was just a guy on foot, we think. So, um with this quality, you probably really won't be able to tell too much. We'll take a look. Is it still frozen? I think so. Hold on. I don't know. Yeah, can you go back over it? I don't know. I'll have to watch it again. It's kind of hard to tell when the guy's like eight pixels. For 11, what time did we get the Dollar Tree call? Okay, so probably they called they called us at 8:27. So, this might be it. Is this back to when the guy was walking on the corner lot? Okay. Yeah, you can't really see anything. It stinks, but I mean, it's something. It's better than nothing. Okay, my man. I appreciate it. Sorry to make you come in, but luckily, you live close enough. Can I just sneak out this way so I don't mess up the floor again? Okay. Thank you. Yeah, there's water all over the camera lens. You can't really see anything. You How many say that? >> This one. >> Let me show you what I did see. >> Do you think he'd be home at this time? >> He should have been. I'm going to call my mom and see if he it there yet cuz I was trying to see if we seen him walking because he was walking right there by the park. >> Hello. >> Um, did Jaquins get there yet? >> I don't know. Someone that pulled up, where was he? He was with a kid and he was gone about 10 minutes. So, >> Um, I got I I I I I I got him, Mommy. It says that he's he just text. He said he got Quia house. Nobody was home. >> Right. When I pulled up Jaquin called. He didn't call the station. >> He needs to come here so we can talk to him. >> Mommy, Mommy, bring him. >> Yeah, bring him to the car. >> Mommy, yes, because when he come there you going to have to bring him back to this police station. >> All right, got it. >> Yeah, call him. That's what he said. That's what he said he at Quia house. I told him to come home. I told him to come home now. It's important. >> All right. >> He's texting now. >> Okay. >> And then, um, do you got a pen? So you can write down this number for me cuz I'm not going to be able to call nobody when I'm in jail. >> I know. >> And I I will need for you to call this number to try to see if he could bond me out. >> All right, what's the number? >> 727 313 >> 313 >> 8791 >> 8791 >> Yeah, his name Willie. >> Willie? >> Mhm. And then, I'm giving you Jaquin's number so you can see if he can help. >> All right. >> He had text last night. It's 4:00 in the 727 >> 727 >> 418 >> 418 [snorts] >> 8931 >> 8931 >> Yeah, and I'll call I'll call Linda to her to pick them up. I'mma tell her I'm in jail, so she'll she'll pick them up. And you just bring you just bring JaQuay's straight here. >> Okay. >> And you call when you in the parking lot. The guy will come down and get y'all. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> [snorts] >> I love you. >> Love you, too. >> Is um is it possible that I can use the bathroom? I just wanted one more call to my aunt. >> Yeah. >> Okay, my kids up to pick my mom and bring JaQuay's here. I got all that three already. >> No problem. I [snorts] can bring it back or if you if you want to if you really prefer this she wants to come back she can come back. >> Malisha Ford was taken into custody and charged with scheme to defraud and false report of a crime. Police alleged she used her 15-year-old son to stage the robbery and steal more than $5,000 from the store. Want to watch more videos like this one? Click the one on the screen.