Cops: Florida men celebrate release from jail by breaking into home
LAKELAND, Fla. - Two Florida men are behind bars after police say they broke into a home to smoke marijuana and party in celebration of one of them getting out of jail.
Police say that a Lakeland homeowner who had been staying with his mother since Oct. 30 called 911 on Wednesday when he got home and found two strangers sleeping in his house. According to police, deputies arrived on the scene and called for the suspects to come out, but they refused, so police brought a K-9 team into the home and the men allegedly tried to climb out a window to escape.
Once in custody, police say that Jaquel Fleming, 18, and Keilow Roundtree, 23, admitted to breaking into the home "to party and smoke weed in celebration of Fleming's recent release from jail."
Fleming has seven prior arrests for crimes including burglary and carrying a concealed weapon. He was just released after serving 220 days in jail. Roundtree served 18 months in state prison for robbery and was released in May.
Both men are charged with burglary, grand theft, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest. Police say the homeowner noticed three window air conditioning units missing, and still-wet paint on walls and carpets, causing approximately $3800 worth of damage.
"This is a scary take on the three bears nursery rhyme," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd in a statement. "These two recently released felons thought they'd find a comfy bed in someone else's house, steal their things and throw paint around, in celebration of being out of jail. Well guess what guys? The party's over."