Almost six years after a sneaky armed robbery in Wilton Manors, two of the assailants remain behind bars.
In the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2017, Adolfo Vela, Darrion Vankleeck and Corey Dukes assaulted and robbed Denis Kladchihin as the victim was walking home from Wilton Drive. The attack happened at the corner of NE 21st Ct. and NE 1st Ave. and was partially captured by surveillance cameras.
Video showed the attackers hiding behind bushes and then chasing Kladchihin, who was later pistol-whipped and robbed. Wilton Manors Police Chief Gary Blocker, who served as Operations Commander at the time, made the case a top priority, stating the department “will not tolerate acts of this nature.”
An anonymous tip led to the trio’s apprehension three days later. Arrest records show WMPD Detective Patrick Newton caught up with them at a house in the North Andrews Gardens area of Oakland Park.
All three assailants were 18 at the time and pleaded no contest to felony charges. Circuit Judge Tim Bailey ordered a $9,800 joint restitution payment to the victim.
Court records show Vela is serving an eight-year prison sentence with a minimum of three years after his probation was revoked. Vankleeck originally got three years probation, but violated those terms with trespassing and drug smuggling charges and is now serving a four-year prison sentence.
Dukes was sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of probation, but violations earlier this year had him serve a 120-day sentence in Broward County Jail.
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