Man allegedly snatches phone on RTS bus just 2 days after plea deal in another case

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Savier Leonardo Dell, 36, was arrested yesterday after a UF student reported that her cell phone had been snatched out of her hand on an RTS bus.

At about 11:10 a.m. yesterday, a woman reported that a man had snatched her cell phone out of her hand while she was riding an RTS bus. Her UF ID was in her cell phone case. Witnesses reported that the man ran off the bus, and the victim chased him. A passerby also took up the chase, but as he got closer to the man, the man allegedly reached into his sweatshirt and acted like he had a weapon. He then allegedly said, “Do you wanna die?”, which caused the passerby to back off and lose contact with the thief.

Dell was apprehended by law enforcement several blocks away and was reportedly identified by both victims in separate show-ups. Officers also found the cell phone and ID along the path between the bus and the location where Dell was apprehended.

Officers reported that Dell had a laptop computer in his possession, along with identification and credit/debit/benefits cards that had been reported stolen from another victim the previous day.

Post Miranda, Dell reportedly denied having done anything wrong, stating that he had found the cards the previous day and planned on turning them in “eventually.” According to the report, Dell eventually confessed to taking the cell phone and threatening the man who chased him. He also reportedly said he took the laptop from another victim on March 17.

Dell was sentenced to 36 months probation on March 15, 2022, after pleading to a felony charge of battery on a law enforcement officer. Misdemeanor charges of petit theft, resisting arrest without violence, and possession of a controlled substance were dropped as part of the plea deal. He was also on probation on a felony drug possession charge before the arrest that resulted in the March 15 sentence. The March 18 arrest report notes that he is listed as a violent offender of special concern.

Dell is being held without bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.