Suspect's arrest relieves Lakewood residents

LAKEWOOD RANCH — At 77 years old, David Weiss never dreamed a stranger at his front door would take him for the most terrifying ride of his life.

But on July 17, a man showed up on his doorstep in the Edgewater community, and by the time Weiss realized the man had inched closer as they talked, the man pushed his way into Weiss’ home at gunpoint and later tied Weiss to a chair, shoved a gun barrel in his mouth and threatened him if he didn’t give up his money. The man took Weiss, in Weiss’s car, first to the bank, then to Checkers and then to the end of
University Parkway, where he dropped Weiss off and told him to walk home.

“It was harrowing,” Weiss said of the experience, which lasted several hours. “I’m greatly relieved he’s caught. I came out of it in one piece. He could have done a lot of damage.”

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office believes they have apprehended the suspect, 26-year-old George Hand of 2904 58th St. Court E. Hand was arrested July 28 and charged with armed home invasion, two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm for another home invasion that occurred July 26 in the 8400 block of Misty Morning Court in Edgewater. And although Hand has not yet been charged for the crime against Weiss, detectives consider him the key suspect.

During the July 26 incident, Hand entered the home, bound a guest of the homeowner with zip ties in a bedroom and then bound the homeowner’s hands with zip ties before attempting to take him out of the residence in the victim’s vehicle, which was blocked by another car. The guest was able to free herself and call 911.

The suspect fled before authorities arrived, a sheriff’s office report states.
In both home invasion cases, Hand knocked on the front door and asked for someone who did not live at the residence before barging into the home and telling the victims he would not hurt them, a sheriff’s office reports state.

As of press time Tuesday, Public Information Officer Dave Bristow said charges against Hand in Weiss’ case were still pending, but he expected them to be brought forward in the near future. Bristow confirmed surveillance from Weiss’ bank, where the suspect tried to use his ATM card, helped in the case, as well.

Hand’s bail, as of Monday, was set at $19,500.

The most serious of Hand’s charges — home invasion with a deadly weapon — carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment, Bristow said.

Bristow said the break in the case came July 27 when a deputy responded to a domestic disturbance at Hand’s East County residence. Hand fled the scene before deputies arrived, but during the investigation, deputies discovered information linking Hand to the home invasions.

Hand was arrested July 28 first for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of marijuana, and he was later charged in connection with the home invasion and an unoccupied burglary in east Bradenton that morning.

Edgewater resident and Lakewood Ranch Community Development District Supervisor Don O’Leary said he has asked the district’s director of operations to check into pricing for security cameras.

Edgewater is a gated community, but there are several pedestrian accesses.

Sheriff Brad Steube is slated to speak with residents this week, O’Leary said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].