Longboat police stop burglary in progress

Longboat Key police arrested a man Tuesday after receiving a call about a burglary in progress in the 600 block of Buttonwood Drive.

Dispatchers received the call at 2:18 p.m. July 8, about a man who was observed entering the home through a rear window.

Police say that after securing the exterior of the residence, they began to enter the home and found 53-year-old Charles Joseph Griffith Jr. exiting the home through a sliding glass door when they arrived at the scene.
Griffith told police he is a transient and has relatives who live on Longboat Key, according to a news release.

Police describe Griffith as “a career criminal with a lengthy history of burglaries and drug-related charges.” He has been previously identified as a suspect in prior thefts and residential burglaries on the Key that remain under investigation, according to police.

Griffith was charged Tuesday with one count of residential burglary. Prior cases under investigation remain active, and additional criminal charges against Griffith are likely, according to police.

As of Thursday, Sarasota County Jail records list Griffith’s occupation as a dishwasher. Griffith remains in custody in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].