Four 14-year-olds were arrested after their alleged car burglary spree in northeast Gainesville, Gainesville Police said in a Facebook post.
Around 3:40 a.m., a witness called police to report a group of people breaking into cars in the area of Chelsea Apartments at 2510 NE Ninth St., according to a media release. Officers confirmed multiple unlocked cars had been broken into after they responded to the scene.
An officer saw a subject in the parking lot of Pointe 23 Apartments, located at 740 NE 23rd Ave., according to the release. After the subject fled, a K-9 officer and K-9 Ace began tracking them down. Another officer then saw the subject attempting to cross Main Street.
Kevin Robinson, 14, had a loaded Glock handgun when he was caught by K-9 Ace, according to the release. The handgun was stolen earlier in the week from an unlocked car in northeast Gainesville, according to GPD spokesperson Officer Ben Tobias.
Samya West, 14, and David Bell, 14, were also caught by officers.
A short time later, an officer and K-9 Ace found Lorenzo Johnson, 14, hiding under a car at Select Motor Car, located at 2715 N. Main St.
Robinson was charged with armed burglary to a vehicle and carrying a concealed gun. West, Bell and Johnson were all charged with burglary to a conveyance.
At least 10 cars were burglarized in multiple complexes across northeast Gainesville. The teens are suspected of breaking into eight of the 10 cars based on evidence investigators have found, according to the GPD Facebook post.
All suspects were transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Additional charges are expected, according to the GPD Facebook post.
Tobias was quoted in the GPD Facebook post saying,“This situation could have easily resulted in an officer-involved-shooting. If this isn’t a shocking enough reminder to lock your car and secure your firearms...I’m not sure what will be.”
Follow Devoun Cetoute on Twitter @devoun_cetoute and contact him at dcetoute@alligator.org.
