Car burglars arrested
Published 12:03 am Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Two Atmore men were arrested early on the morning of June 28 on multiple theft charges, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said that Eric John Williams, 19, of 408 Church St., Atmore, and Bryson Williams, 18, of 59 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Atmore, were taken into custody after an investigation led to them being the primary suspects in a recent car burglaries case.
Lambert said the ECSO received multiple calls Monday and Tuesday from the Nokomis area in reference to burglaries of vehicles.
“Deputies got there and found several vehicles were broken into with multiple things taken, mainly firearms, like handguns,” he said. “Investigators and deputies began to work on the case and a suspect was developed (Eric Williams).”
Lambert said the ECSO, along with the Atmore Police Department, began to do a saturation of the area last night.
“This morning, at approximately 3:30, Atmore police spotted the suspect (E. Williams), along with another two more black males entering the (Kangaroo Express) gas station on North Main and Jack Springs Road,” he said. “When deputies went to approach the suspects, two of the black males got in the white car and fled the scene.”
Lambert said a chase ensued and it wound up going back out Rockaway Creek Road and Deer Creek Road.
“Deputies intercepted the chase and picked it up out in the county,” he said. “The vehicle then got on Highway 31 on James Road in the Nokomis area and wrecked in the ditch right past Nokomis Baptist Church toward Bay Minette.”
Lambert said the third suspect was left at the gas station and no identification has been found on him, yet.
Lambert said after the vehicle wrecked, the two suspects, both E. and B. Williams, jumped out of the vehicle and ran across a planted field.
“Atmore police and deputies gave chase,” he said, adding that B. Williams was apprehended and taken into custody. “The driver, Eric Williams, continued to flee on foot.”
Lambert said at this point, K9s from Fountain Correctional Facility and Camp Five in Florida, were called. He said the K9 officers came to them and assisted in the tracking.
“Of course, the police department and other deputies were called out,” he said. “We set up a perimeter, and shortly around day light at 5:30 to 6 o’clock, a citizen spotted the suspect (E. Williams) running across the field and called 911.”
Lambert said he wanted to give the citizen a thumbs up for being visual and helping them apprehend the suspect.
Lambert said the citizen pointed to where the suspect was located, nearby a fence in the wooded area.
“He was taken into custody without incident,” he said.
E. Williams already had six outstanding charges on him, Lambert said.
Both have been charged with three counts of burglary of a vehicle, theft of property II and attempted burglary of a vehicle.
Lambert said E. Williams and B. Williams were determined to have been the suspects from the car burglaries Monday and Tuesday, and more charges are coming.
B. Williams has also been charged with attempting to elude and disorderly conduct.
Lambert said those with any more information on this case can call the sheriff’s department at 251-809-2154, call 911 or they can submit an anonymous tip on the ECSO’s website at www.escambiacountysheriffal.org.
Lambert said he wanted to remind folks to lock their cars.
“The agencies that were involved especially the APD, thank you,” he said. “I want to thank the citizens for helping us. That’s what it takes in cases like this.
“I still want to encourage, just as we got these guys caught, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen again,” he said. “These guys were witnessed doing this Monday night and Tuesday morning. The witnesses said they’d go to the car, and when it’s locked, pull handle and go to another car. Simply by locking it up, they’re just passing them by.”