Ocala Police K9 Marshal Subdues Taco Bell Armed Robbery Suspect

An attempted armed robbery at an Ocala Taco Bell ended in the arrest of a local man, thanks to the swift deployment and tracking skills of Ocala Police Department's K9 Marshal.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Taco Bell restaurant located at 2380 SW College Road. According to police reports, 40-year-old Kewarren Lee Anderson approached the restaurant's drive-thru window at around 12:30 a.m. Brandishing a large rock, Anderson climbed through the open window, entered the building, and aggressively demanded money from the staff. He then chased terrified employees out of the restaurant and around the parking lot.

Ocala Police officers responded to the active robbery call within minutes. K9 Officer Trey Roberson and his canine partner, K9 Marshal, arrived on the scene and immediately began tracking the suspect's scent from the restaurant. K9 Marshal successfully tracked Anderson to a nearby commercial property, where he was found hiding behind a large trash dumpster.

When Anderson refused to surrender to officers, K9 Marshal was deployed to apprehend him. Anderson was bitten and subsequently taken into custody by officers without further incident. After receiving medical attention for minor injuries, he was booked into the Marion County Jail. Anderson was later convicted and sentenced to four years in state prison for the attempted robbery. In recognition of their outstanding service, Officer Roberson and K9 Marshal were honored as local "Hometown Heroes" later that year.