Detectives searching for Ellenton robbers

Date: August 12, 2009
by: The Observer Staff

A 14-year-old girl is safe after at least two armed males broke into her Ellenton home.

According to Manatee County Sheriff's Office reports, at about 11:51 p.m., Aug. 11, deputies responded to the home in the 5900 block of Willows Bridge Loop, in Covered Bridge Estates, after receiving a 911 call from the victim stating that someone was in the house.

Responding deputies saw two to three males fleeing from the rear of the residence. The suspects got into a maroon Dodge Neon. One of the deputies ran toward the vehicle and ordered the occupants to show their hands. At that time, the driver started the vehicle and fled in reverse at a high rate of speed. The vehicle continued driving backward for about 75 feet before losing control and driving between two houses. The driver struck the utility meter and the side of one of the homes before coming to rest on top of the A/C condenser.

The occupants fled the vehicle. K-9 and the watch unit were utilized but yielded negative results. In plain view on the driver's side floor board was what appeared to be a Mac-11 firearm, the report said.

The residence where the robbery took place was ransacked, and it appeared entry was made by prying the rear bathroom door open. After conducting an interview with the victim, it was determined she was inside of the residence when she heard someone trying to get into the house. She got her phone, hid in the bathroom and called 911. She then heard the suspects inside the residence. One of the suspects was able to get into the locked bathroom and locate her hiding in the shower. He asked her where the money was and also asked her who she called. She told him that she called her mom. Shortly after both suspects fled the house. The victim was not injured during the incident.

The first suspect is described as a light skinned black male, 5-foot-8, 140 pounds. He wore a black ski mask,camouflage clothes and what was described as a ballistic vest and was armed with an AK-47. The second suspect is a dark-skinned black male, 5-foot-10, 195 pounds. He also work a ski mask and dark clothing and was armed with an unknown handgun.

Currently 1 Response

1.
Pretty frightening and, unfortunately, the first of many we will see as the economy starts to deteriorate.

What we DON'T know is if the parents had any drug ties that would have lead the men to the house in the first place. It seems unlikely that they would have gone "armed for bear" on a normal home invasion UNLESS they suspected the owner would resist.
Just a thought
Kent Sjolund
Wed 12th Aug 2009
at 9:47am