Two arrested in Charlotte County home burglary amid squatter concerns
Charlotte County deputies arrested two women for burglarizing an abandoned home on Agate Street, while neighbors reported ongoing issues with squatters in the area.
SOUTH GULF COVE, Fla. —
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said two women were arrested Saturday for burglarizing an abandoned home on Agate Street, where neighbors have reported ongoing issues with squatters and homeless encampments.
Bobby Lamanna, a neighbor, described the scene when deputies arrived.
“Well actually, Barbara came out and she saw the police were out here. There was a cop in the front yard yelling to somebody in the house next door. ‘Come out with your hands up. This is the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Department,’” Lamanna said.
Barbara Chamberlain, another neighbor, said she was outside watering her plants when she noticed the deputies next door.
“I figured they were investigating and making sure that the people that were squatting here were really gone. But when I heard, ‘Come out with your hands up, come out with your hands up.’ And then I noticed there were more than one squad cars on the street. My heart starts pounding and I ran in the house,” Chamberlain said.
The sheriff’s office confirmed to Gulf Coast News that two people were arrested at the home. However, Lamanna said there were others inside the house.
“And the thing about yesterday that bothered me is the fact that when the police came, there were four people. There was two males, two females, two females were apprehended, two males were not. So there’s still two people that are floating around,” Lamanna said.
Gulf Coast News has reached out to CCSO for additional information about the case, who was arrested and whether deputies are searching for more suspects.
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