Early Monday morning, deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested three Atmore men for the burglary of a McCullough resident’s home.

Eric Mandrell Riley, 31, Tacorey Deantonio Bowens, 20, and Darrell Octavius Brown, 22, were all three captured by members of the Fountain/JO Davis Correctional Facility dog team after crashing their getaway vehicle into a ditch and fleeing on foot.

Sheriff Grover Smith said burglaries of homes make him uneasy because of the risk of someone getting injured or possibly killed.

“We always have some burglaries, but what bothers me is that they are going into people’s home and apparently are unconcerned if the people are going to catch them,” he said. “They are kicking down doors and taking things that are impossible to miss, and they are doing it when there is likelihood that someone will see them. That’s when someone gets hurt or even killed and that’s what scares me. Unfortunately, I believe these home invasions are going to continue, so I want everyone to be aware.”

Amanda Day reported the burglary after she spotted three black males exiting her home, located at 1109 Mack Pond Rd., when she arrived at 2:55 a.m. The suspects fled the scene in a car and were followed for a short distance by the homeowner before crashing into a ditch, according to sheriff reports. Although no one was injured during the crime, Smith said the trio rammed the property owner’s vehicle while being followed, which he said could have resulted in injury.

“When people are trying to get away, they can hurt you,” Smith said. “There is no need to get into a confrontation, it’s not worth it.”

Smith added that he believes the danger involved with the burglary of a home is significantly high than a burglary at a business.

“It worries me when people burglarize homes,” he said. “When businesses are broken into, it doesn’t carry as much of a risk because of the possibility of the confrontation in someone’s home.”

Atmore Police Chief Jason Dean said that the owner of the getaway vehicle had reported it stolen earlier in the evening, but that she decided not to press charges.

All three men were charged with burglary second degree and theft of property second degree. They are currently being held at the Escambia County Correctional Facility in Brewton.

In addition to Fountain’s dog team, the Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Atmore Police Department and Poarch Police Department.

“It was good to see everybody work so well together,” Smith said. “We have a good relationship with the prison to use their dogs and with the Atmore and Poarch police departments.”

According to a spokesperson with the Escambia County Correctional Facility the bond for all three men was set at $25,000 each Tuesday afternoon.