PALM BAY, Fla. – Palm Bay police are searching for a 26-year-old man in connection with a pawn shop burglary that occurred as Hurricane Irma made its passage across the state.
Police noted that the opportunistic break-in on Sept. 11 at the Blue Diamond Pawn Shoppe, 1890 Palm Bay Road, happened as officers were hunkering down in preparation of the storm’s arrival, News 6 partner Florida Today reported.
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Already one person, Dangelo Johnson, 21, was arrested and charged with armed burglary in connection with the case.
Now officers are searching for his brother Anthony Chris Johnson.
“He is considered armed and dangerous. They stole a bunch of guns,” said Lt. Mike Bandish of the Palm Bay Police Department. “It’s an enhanced crime to do it during a (declared) state of emergency. It’s an enhanced penalty and that would be done by the judge upon a conviction,” Bandish said.
The owner had also evacuated for the storm.
A surveillance camera captured footage of three men - wearing either hoodies or hats with their faces exposed - roaming through the store. The bandits made off with electronics and at least 36 guns. Tuesday, officers named Johnson as a second suspect in the case. His brother Dangelo Johnson, remains held at the Brevard County Jail Complex on a $44,000 bond.
Anyone with information on Johnson’s whereabouts is asked to call CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS.