By By Adam Prestridge
An Atmore man is behind bars today, charged with 12 felonies and two misdemeanors following a home invasion early Monday morning in Pensacola, Fla.
According to Escambia County, Fla. Sheriff's Office public information officer Sgt. Mike Ward, 23-year-old Sharif Kwame Bradford of Atmore was arrested after he allegedly broke into a house in the 500 block of East Nine Mile Road at the West Florida Mobile Home Park, hit two people in the head with a 9mm pistol and bound them with wire. The quick thinking of one of the victims, Brittany Patrice Burse, 23, who lives at the residence, helped ESCO officers quickly learn of the break in, while she was covered in blankets.
"We were on the phone with one of victims and once we arrived on the scene and made contact with him he tried to make a run for it out the back door, but an officer was waiting for him, so he turned back and went inside the residence," Ward said. "We gave chase inside the residence and were able to make the arrest after a small altercation."
According to a report issued by the Sheriff's Office, the incident began when Bradford approached the mobile home with a 9mm handgun and knocked on the front door. Willie Edward Brown, 22, of the 8700 block of Airway Drive answered the door and Bradford forced his way into the residence and demanded, "Where's the money and where's the drugs?," according to the report. At that time Burse was making a call to the authorities.
Bradford later hit Brown in the head several times with the pistol and also struck Latasha Marie Square, 22, of the 8700 block of Airway Drive in the head, according to the report.
"The investigation is over, we made the arrest," Ward said. "There was mention that he may be responsible for other robberies and burglaries in the area, but I have not been able to confirm that. The investigators are looking into that, but where they are with it, I don't know. It takes time to further the investigation."
According to Ward, the handgun used in the home invasion was reported stolen from Atmore. Atmore Police Department investigator Robby Williams confirmed Ward's statement adding that the gun was stolen from a residence on Dec. 16, 2006. Williams also said Bradford has been arrested several times by the APD on numerous offenses.
"He has an extensive police record," Williams said.
Bradford proceeded to bound Brown's and Square's hands behind their backs with audio equipment wire, according to the report. Deputies then arrived on the scene.
Ward said home invasions do occur from time-to-time in the Pensacola, Fla. area, but said invasions of this nature are rare.
"We do have home invasions from time to time, but invasions where the suspect ties the victims up and attempts to rob them doesn't happen that often, but it does happen," he said.
Ward added that investigators do not believe Bradford was an acquaintance of his victims.
"According to the report, it did not appear that they knew each other and then the suspect once we Marandized him he invoked his right to council so we didn't speak with him after that," he said.
Bradford was arrested and charged with 12 felonies including: home invasion-robbery, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, wearing mask during commission of a felony, use of a firearm during commission of a felony, aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a firearm, battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, grand theft of a cell phone, grand theft of a firearm and possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Bradford was also charged with two misdemeanors – possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.
Ward said he is unsure if Bradford was under the influence at the time of the incident.
"It wasn't indicated in the report that he may have been under the influence or anything of that nature unless for some reason they needed to take a blood sample from him, then we won't know," he said.
Bradford is being held at the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola, Fla. on a $247,000 bond.