CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. -- Deputies have arrested two Port Charlotte men they say stole two chainsaws from a neighbor and offered to return them for cash.
36-year-old Rustin Rodgers and 34-year-old Mario Miller, both of Port Charlotte, are now in the Charlotte County Jail on charges of Burglary, Grand Theft, and Dealing in Stolen Property.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, the victim contacted the sheriff's office on Saturday to report two chainsaws were removed from his vehicle's toolbox.
The victim texted a neighbor, Rustin Rodgers, to ask if he knew anything about where the chainsaws were, and offered an $800 reward if they could be located.
Rodgers replied, saying he knew where they were, but wanted $1000 and asked the victim to not contact law enforcement.
Detectives arrived at Rodgers' home to find the chainsaws and identified Miller as an additional suspect.
Based on the evidence obtained throughout the investigation, Rustin Rodgers and Mario Miller were arrested for their involvement in the burglary to the victim’s vehicle, the theft of the chain saws, and the attempted sale of the saws back to the victim.
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell encourages victims of a crime to report it immediately. “Timely reporting of a crime or a suspicious incident provides deputies the best opportunity to investigate what occurred,” stated Sheriff Prummell. “The victim in this case did the right thing by calling law enforcement right away, preventing additional burglaries by these suspects.”
