Teen Car Burglary Suspect Arrested in Bradenton Creek Standoff
According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, a 14-year-old suspected of car burglary was apprehended early Monday morning after attempting to evade capture by hiding in a creek. The arrest followed an incident near Cedar Hammock Creek, where a homeowner discovered individuals rummaging through his pickup truck and pursued them with a neighbor.
Deputies arrived to find the suspect attempting to conceal himself under bushes along the creek. After a brief standoff, the teenager surrendered and was taken into custody. Another 14-year-old was found nearby, drenched and shivering, with a leg injury believed to have been sustained while fleeing through the creek. He was transported to a hospital for treatment but has not been arrested.
Authorities are still searching for a third suspect who fled the scene. Investigators are working to determine whether the incident is connected to other recent car burglaries in the area.
The arrested teen faces a charge of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, a third-degree felony. Deputies say the incident occurred around 3 a.m. when the homeowner and his neighbor confronted the suspects, prompting them to flee toward the creek.