VIDEO: Security Footage, License Plate Readers Help Deputies Catch Fleeing Suspects After Crime Spree

Date Added: April 06, 2020 2:04 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

SECURITY FOOTAGE, LICENSE PLATE READERS HELP DEPUTIES CATCH FLEEING SUSPECTS AFTER CRIME SPREE

Using home security footage, License Plate Reader technology and plenty of solid strategy and coordination, Volusia sheriff’s deputies responding to a string of overnight car breaks caught three suspects as they tried to escape Volusia County in three different vehicles, two of them stolen.  

Deputies responded to an attempted car break on Longwood Drive in Osteen shortly after 2 a.m. The suspects and their vehicle, a newer-model red 4-door passenger car, were captured on the victim's surveillance system. During the investigation, deputies discovered several additional vehicle burglaries in the same general area. Lt. Cody Cochran contacted the Seminole County Sheriff's Office and confirmed the same suspects had just committed several vehicle burglaries near State Road 415 in Seminole. 

Using the License Plate Reader system, deputies identified the suspect vehicle as a 2016 Ford Focus with Florida tag IT2-0BH out of Orlando, which entered Volusia County shortly before the vehicle burglaries started in Osteen. 

According to the LPR system, the vehicle had not yet traveled back into Seminole County. Anticipating the suspects would eventually return to Seminole using SR 415, Lt. Cochran took a stationary position at Reed Ellis Road and SR 415, while K-9 handler Deputy Brett Whitson and K-9 Endo positioned themselves at Doyle Road and SR 415. About an hour later, Deputy Whitson spotted the suspect vehicle traveling southbound on SR 415 from Doyle Road.  It was being closely followed by a black Ford Fusion and a black Chevrolet Traverse.

Deputy Whitson initiated a traffic stop and all three vehicles fled, headed south toward Lt. Cochran's position.  As the vehicles approached at high speeds, Lt. Cochran deployed stop sticks and flattened tires on all three vehicles. The vehicles continued southbound for a short distance before crashing into each other near the Seminole County bridge. All three drivers bailed, running eastbound into the ravines. Two out of the three suspects were almost immediately apprehended without incident, and with the help of Alert One from Seminole County, the third suspect was apprehended by K-9 Endo after a search through the ravines. 

The Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Traverse were discovered to be stolen from a residence in the Venetian Bay community of New Smyrna Beach. New Smyrna Beach PD responded to Venetian Bay and discovered several additional vehicle burglaries within the community.  During the same timeframe, it’s believed the suspects also burglarized numerous vehicles in the Newport Sound apartment complex in New Smyrna Beach. 

Seminole County deputies also responded to the scene of the bailout and found stolen property, including a stolen firearm, inside the red Ford Focus, which belonged to victims from their jurisdiction.

This investigation is still active and the suspects are:

16-year-old Diego Penaloza, Orlando (active juvenile warrant), our charges: fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, burglary of a conveyance, attempted burglary of a conveyance, armed burglary of a conveyance, grand theft of a firearm, crossing county line to commit a burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit armed burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting an officer without violence.

23-year-old Mason Banks, Orlando (currently serving community control), our charges: fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, burglary of a conveyance, attempted burglary of a conveyance, armed burglary of a conveyance, grand theft of a firearm, crossing county line to commit a burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit armed burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, resisting an officer without violence and contributing to the delinquency of a child.

22-year-old Timothy Bowser, Apopka (currently serving community control), our charges: fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, burglary of a conveyance, attempted burglary of a conveyance, armed burglary of a conveyance, grand theft of a firearm, crossing county line to commit a burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit armed burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, resisting an officer without violence and contributing to the delinquency of a child.