A shoplifting investigation led to the discovery of guns and drugs

Two men and a teenager were arrested after officials found drugs, firearms and ammunition after being called to a shoplifting incident Wednesday at the Mall at University Town Center.

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Saks Fifth Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday where loss prevention officials identified Jonathon Dryburgh, 23, as the man who stole a pair of sunglasses, according to the sheriff’s office.

Dryburgh was taken into custody. Deputies then received a second theft report in which an employee’s cell phone was stolen.

Aaron Smith, 23, and a 16-year-old boy were taken into custody as they were trying to leave the store, according to the sheriff’s office.

Surveillance video captured Smith taking the employee’s cell phone and revealed the teen was wearing a backpack before he was taken into custody, according to the sheriff’s office.

Retracing the teen’s steps, deputies found the backpack, which contained a loaded handgun, prescription pills, marijuana and various items of drug paraphernalia inside. The gun was reported stolen out of Manatee County.

Investigators discovered the three men traveled together in Dryburgh’s vehicle. A search of his vehicle revealed several pairs of new sunglasses, three GPS units, two loaded syringes, drug paraphernalia, several rounds of ammunition and a loaded Hi-Point .45-caliber carbine with the serial number filed off.

The three men were arrested and taken to the Sarasota County Jail.

Dryburgh was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, removing the serial number from a firearm and theft. He was released from prison in March and has several prior felony convictions, according to the sheriff’s office. He is being held on $18,000 bond.

Smith is charged with theft and is being held on $1,500 bond.

The 16-year-old is charged with carrying a concealed weapon during a felony, two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana, possession of narcotic equipment and theft. He was released to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The investigation is ongoing.

This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 4:34 PM with the headline "A shoplifting investigation led to the discovery of guns and drugs."