Armed carjacking in deland leads to two arrests

DELAND, FL — On the afternoon of yesterday, deputies from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an armed carjacking incident on South Thompson Street in DeLand. According to the victim, two masked suspects, dressed entirely in black, forcibly removed him from his black 2019 Chevrolet Corvette at gunpoint. One of the assailants also assaulted the victim with the firearm before commandeering the vehicle.

The stolen Corvette was quickly located by the sheriff’s helicopter, Air One, which monitored the vehicle from above as it evaded pursuit by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VSO) deputies and DeLand Police Department officers. The chase concluded off SR 472, where one suspect was apprehended inside the vehicle, and the other was captured after attempting to escape on foot into the surrounding woods.

Authorities successfully detained both suspects by 4:32 p.m., identifying them as Mikell Bailey, 23, of DeLand, and Britten Polk, 31, also from DeLand. Bailey faces charges of armed carjacking and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, in addition to existing warrants for burglary, grand theft, and witness tampering. Polk has been charged with possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon and violation of probation.

Following their arrest, both individuals were incarcerated at the Volusia County Branch Jail without the option for bond. Recovered from the scene were two firearms, a black mask, gloves, and additional evidence linking the suspects to the crime. The investigation remains ongoing, and law enforcement officials are urging anyone with further information to come forward.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.