On 04-26-20 just after 7 a.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in Spring Hill (Silverthorn subdivision) regarding an Attempted Residential Burglary.
The caller provided the 9-1-1 operator with a thorough description of the suspect and stated he had attempted to gain access to the residence via several doors and windows and did, in fact, make entry to the screened lanai.
Upon arrival, deputies met with the homeowners, who advised they were awakened by their daughter, who told them someone was on the lanai and was attempting to get in the house. Both adults leapt from bed and ran to various doors and windows to check for the suspect. The female adult spotted the suspect on the screened lanai and shouted to him to “get out.” The suspect looked at her and smirked, then “strolled out the door.”
As the female adult called 9-1-1, the male adult went outside to see if he could see which way the suspect went. The male was unable to see where the suspect went.
Both adults told deputies they did not know the male, nor did their daughter, and he did not have permission to be on their property.
Investigation revealed the suspect attempted to enter the victims’ residence through a side garage door, a bedroom window, two different glass doors, one sliding glass door, and the front door.
The suspect did make entry into the victims’ residence through a storage room door and through a locked screen door leading into the lanai.
The entire incident was captured by the victims’ video surveillance equipment, which showed his activity, as follows.
When the suspect first arrived at the residence, he went to the front door. Upon observing the Ring doorbell, the suspect began waving to the camera for a short time. The suspect then looked directly into the camera and said, “Listen, I’mma just use these chargers right below. This way I can charge my phone.” The suspect made a few other statements before walking away from the front door.
The suspect is later observed on the lanai/pool deck, where he is seen opening a refrigerator and removing a can of beer. The suspect then opens two drawers in the kitchen area of the lanai, rummages through the drawers, then removes an item (later determined to be a 17.5 inch metal, two-pronged BBQ fork).
Deputies searching the area for the suspect, located a male matching the description provided by the victims, at the Circle K convenience store located at 14195 Elgin Boulevard, Spring Hill.
The suspect told deputies he had recently consumed cocaine. With that being said, deputies had the suspect cleared by medical personnel before transporting him to the Hernando County Detention Center.
Due to the suspect being a juvenile, a deputy responded to his address on Sweetgum Road in Brooksville to advise his mother that he had been placed under arrest.
When deputies attempted to question the suspect regarding this incident, he refused to speak with them.
The suspect, whose DOB is 07-25-2002 was charged as follows:
– Armed/Occupied Residential Burglary
– Criminal Mischief.
The suspect was turned over to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and was transported to their facility in Ocala.
