Suspect in custody after multiple burglaries
Suspect in custody after multiple burglaries
POSTED 10/10/2008
FERNANDINA BEACH, FL - The Fernandina Beach Police Department has announced an adult has been arrested and charged with several vehicle, residential and commercial burglaries, as well as criminal mischief and Loitering/prowling. All of these incidents occurred between September 22nd and October 6, 2008.
The break in these cases came after Fernandina Beach Police Officers arrested Christopher O’Neal for loitering and prowling after finding him hiding behind the Amelia Crossing Shopping Center located in the 1600 block of South 14th Street when officers responded to a power outage at that location. He was detained and later confessed to damaging a power box and the electrical system at the plaza.
Further investigation revealed that O’Neal had committed several other crimes prior to being apprehended. He admitted to breaking a window at St. Peters Episcopal Church, as well as committing several residential burglaries in the downtown area. One of the residences was occupied at the time of the incident.
O’Neal also confessed to entering several unlocked vehicles, from both the Nature’s Gate neighborhood and the Ocean Sound neighborhood. O’Neal told investigators that he simply walked around several subdivisions looking for unlocked vehicles. He entered the vehicles looking for change or anything of value.
Christopher O’Neal, twenty years of age, has lived in Fernandina Beach for the past two years. He is originally from Virginia and has no permanent address in Fernandina Beach. He has been charged with two counts of criminal mischief, one count of loitering /prowling, one count of commercial burglary, three counts of residential burglary, one count of entering into an occupied dwelling and eight counts of auto burglary. O’Neal is being held at the Nassau County Jail on a $10,002.00 bond
Several additional burglaries, those occurring between September 16th and September 22nd are currently being investigated. Different suspects are believed to be responsible for those incidents occurring in the areas of Via Del Ray, Pirates Bay Subdivision, and North Fletcher Avenue. These suspects are from Jacksonville and are currently incarcerated in the Duval County Jail on unrelated charges. Suspect information will be available once charges are formally filed by the Fernandina Beach Police Department.
