Home Invasion Suspects Kick-In Front Door While Female Resident Was Sleeping
Lake Wales, Florida – On September 16, 2013 Lake Wales Police Officers responded to a home on 5th Street regarding a residential alarm. Officers arrived and found that the victim’s front door had been forcibly kicked open. The victim reported hearing her alarm go off while she was in her bedroom at the back of the residence. When she exited the room she observed two black male subjects exiting the front door. One was carrying her 47 inch Vizio flat screen TV and the other her Tommy Hilfiger purse. Officers were on scene within about a minute of being dispatched and a perimeter was immediately set up. K-9 responded and attempted a track the suspects. Fresh vehicle tracks in the grass between Pleasant Avenue and the trail next to the victim’s residence were located not far from the scene. PCSO crime scene was contacted to process the scene, taking photo’s and looking for prints. As K-9 checked the area officers attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle on Pleasant Avenue. a gold Chrysler Sebring. It was trying to exit the perimeter they had set up for the burglary. As the vehicle approached at Pleasant Avenue and 5th Street officers attempted to speak with the driver. The driver, a black male, clearly looked at the officers at which time he fled in the vehicle North onto N Wales Drive. About this time PCSO air was arriving and picked up the vehicle as it turned onto Burns Avenue headed East. Before Officers could catch up the driver parked the vehicle in someone’s yard on Dogwood Lane and fled on foot. He hid behind a shed in the next yard which is where K-9 and Officers located him as air kept a visual. Robert R Johnson was taken into custody. Officers located the car keys, his cell phone and pre packaged marijuana where he was found hiding. Marijuana was also located at the vehicle door on the ground. He was taken into custody for fleeing to elude and narcotics charges and later transported to the Polk County jail. At this point he has not been charged in the burglary case and is not believed to have been involved with it. Detective attempted to interview him regarding the burglary but was unsuccessful in gaining additional information.
A second vehicle was also on Pleasant Avenue that did stop after the Chrysler Sebring fled. The vehicle was a 2010 Chevrolet 4 door occupied by 2 B/M subjects. Both were initially cooperative but the passenger then began to question why they were stopped. The reasoning was explained to him. Both were cooperative and allowed officers to look in the vehicle which was clear of any visible contraband. After interviewing the vehicle occupants it does not appear they had anything to do with the burglary.
The incident is still under investigation. If you have any information regarding the burglary you are urged to contact the Lake Wales Police Department.
