Palmetto teenager used a stolen car to break into Sarasota gun shop, cops say
A Palmetto teenager already facing charges he stole more than a dozen guns in Manatee County earlier this year, was arrested Friday after he drove a stolen car through the wall of a Sarasota gun store and stolen several guns, Sarasota police said.
About 7:30 a.m., police say Tocory Williams backed his vehicle through side wall of a gun shop in the 300 block of Orange Avenue and stole several guns.
Police caught up to Williams a short time later after he crashed his car, which had been reported stolen in Manatee County about 6 a.m. Friday, into a tree while trying to make his getaway from officers.
Wiliams faces charges of armed burglary, burglary by using a motor vehicle, burglary causing damage to a structure, fleeing to elude, driving without a license and three counts of theft of a firearm, Sarasota police said.
Williams was additionally charged with criminal mischief and “additional charges are possible,” police said.
Police said Williams had been arrested in Manatee on Jan. 4 on charges of armed burglary, grand theft, criminal mischief and 15 counts of theft of a firearm.
The Bradenton Herald is naming Williams, whose name is a public record under Florida law because he faces felony charges, due tp the seriousness of the charges.
Anyone with information on the Sarasota case can call Detective Kim Laster at 941-263-6827 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.
This story was originally published April 23, 2021 at 12:58 PM.