Bradenton teen arrested after jumping into creek to flee vehicle burglary, deputies say
.jpg "A teen was arrested after deputies say the 14-year-old jumped into a Bradenton creek to evade capture during an alleged vehicle burglary.")
Deputies say they arrested a teenager suspected of breaking into vehicles after he jumped into a Bradenton creek to avoid capture.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to reports of vehicle burglaries near 28th Avenue West and 14th Street West around 3 a.m. on Monday. A truck owner told deputies he woke up to find three people rummaging through his pickup.
Two of the individuals were 14-year-old boys, according to the sheriff’s office. A third male of unknown age escaped, the agency said.
The truck owner told deputies he called a neighbor for help and the two men confronted the group, prompting them to flee. One of the alleged burglars attempted to hide in tall grass near Cedar Hammock Creek before jumping into the water to escape, according to a news release.
According to the sheriff’s office, the truck owner and his neighbor used flashlights to track the group’s movements until deputies arrived.
Deputies say they found one of the teens hiding under bushes along the creek’s edge. After what deputies described as a “brief standoff,” the 14-year-old climbed out of the water and deputies arrested him.
A second person, also 14, was found soaked and shivering a few blocks away. Deputies said he was detained and taken to a local hospital to treat a cut on his leg. He has not been charged with a crime.
Detectives say they are still reviewing evidence and searching for a third person involved in the incident. They are also investigating whether this case is connected to a string of vehicle burglaries reported in the area over the weekend, the sheriff’s office said.
The arrested teen faces a charge of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, a third-degree felony.
This story was originally published December 23, 2024 at 1:28 PM.
