Lee County Sheriff's Deputies say a woman went into her neighbor's yard and destroyed their landscaping and parts of their pool cage.
It happened overnight on Sunday night. Deputies say a homeowner noticed her front door mat was missing and several flowers had been pulled up or cut when she went outside Monday morning. She also found nine screen cuts and other damage on the pool screen. The homeowners reviewed surveillance video from their security equipment and say they recognize the person who did it as their neighbor, Pamela Latorella.
Deputies say the footage shows someone crossing onto the victims' property from Latorella's property around 12:45 am. The video also shows that person apparently cutting a plant with a large kitchen knife. Deputies say it also shows the woman taking flowers and a door mat from the home.
Detectives found flowers scattered in the yard, which they say were the same as those stolen. Latorella told deputies she'd been home all night. When deputies asked her to come into the substation to be interviewed, she attempted to run, but they were able to apprehend her. She refused to speak to detectives without a lawyer.
She was arrested and charged with criminal mischief over $1,000. burglary to a dwelling while armed and petit theft.
