Florida man arrested a month after he 'brazenly' ran out of Walmart with entire cash register, deputies say

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John Michael Wakefield was arrested at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza in Ocoee. (Photo: Flagler County Sheriff's Office)

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. - Flagler County deputies shared photos of an unidentified man on social media last month who allegedly made off with an entire cash register from Walmart. Now, deputies have made an arrest in the case. 

John Michael Wakefield was arrested and charged with unarmed burglary of an occupied structure and grand theft from a building, according to an update from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office on Friday morning. 

On Dec. 10, 2023, the 43-year-old man from Wellington allegedly stole a cash register from a Walmart in Palm Coast, and "brazenly" ran out of the store. Deputies said he was confronted by an employee during the theft, but shoved them out of the way and fled the store. 

The incident was initially being investigated as a commercial robbery, but further investigation revealed that the likely suspect – identified as Wakefield through facial recognition – was a convicted felon who was released from prison in 2021 after serving 10 years for armed robbery, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. 

Analysts also found a photo on Wakefield's social media profile of him wearing a red T-shirt that says "Key West" – the same shirt he was wearing during the alleged Walmart theft, deputies said. 

Deputies found the identifiable "Key West" T-shirt Wakefield was wearing at the time of the alleged robbery. (Photo: Flagler County Sheriff's Office)

Detectives obtained a warrant for Wakefield's arrest. He was tracked to a location in North Carolina, and then again in Central Florida. Investigators ultimately determined that Wakefield was in the Orlando area, and Florida Highway Patrol troopers were able to apprehend him at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza on the Florida Turnpike in Ocoee. 

During his arrest, authorities found several items in Wakefield's vehicle, including the red T-shirt and chain he wore during the Walmart theft, plus methamphetamines, a ski mask and a "realistic-looking airsoft pellet gun," according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. 

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"This dirtbag made the mistake of coming to Flagler County to commit his crime not knowing we have extensive technology, and an amazing RTCC and investigative team," said Sheriff Rick Staly. "He didn’t learn from his previous time behind bars and hopefully the courts will send him back to prison. I commend our investigative team, our Real Time Crime Center team, and the Florida Highway Patrol for bringing him to justice and ending his crime spree." 

Wakefield, who has a long rap sheet including drug trafficking, drug possession, grand theft and robbery, is currently being held in the Orange County Corrections Facility on local charges. A hold has been placed for Flagler County, and once he's transferred to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, he'll be held on a $60,000 bond.