CALLAHAN, Fla. — A Leesburg, Fla. man was arrested in Callahan on Christmas Eve, as police say he is now facing multiple charges related to car burglary incident, according to a post on the Nassau County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
Brandon Alexander Mitchell, 24, was arrested after attempting to break into a vehicle that was left unlocked, the post states. Shortly after 4:00 a.m. on Christmas Eve, the sheriff's office says they received a call about a suspicious person who was looking into vehicles on Daybreak Drive.
When a deputy arrived on scene, police say the victim told the deputy that he had chased away at least two suspects rummaging through his vehicle. The deputy headed to the area where the suspects were last seen running and when they arrived, the sheriff's office says the deputy noticed one suspect running northbound and another eastbound through a grass field.
Next, the post states that the deputy caught up to Mitchell, and advised him that if he did not stop, he would be tased. Mitchell "refused to comply" and the deputy then deployed his taser, according to police.
The sheriff's office says Mitchell then fell to the ground and reached for his backpack.
"Fearing that a weapon was inside, our deputy deployed a second cartridge and continued to advise the suspect to stay on the ground," the sheriff's office post states. "Mitchell was placed in handcuffs and our deputies searched his vehicle that was parked nearby."
When a deputy searched Mitchell’s vehicle, the sheriff's office says several items were located including a purse and two wallets that belonged to separate victims. Those victims told police that their items were stolen after their vehicles were left unlocked, the post states.
"This is another friendly reminder to please lock your vehicles," said Sheriff Bill Leeper on the Facebook post. "It only takes a few second[s] and it can help stop criminals like these from getting their hands on your valuables."
Police say it was later revealed that Mitchell traveled to different counties from Leesburg to allegedly commit these crimes. The post states that Mitchell faces multiple charges including burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, dealing in stolen property and unlawful possession of a stolen credit or debit card.