LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — Two people have been arrested following a string of simultaneous crimes creating confusion and a bit of chaos in Lehigh Acres on Wednesday.
It started when deputies responded to a home invasion around 3pm Wednesday, before getting another call about a robbery at a construction site just minutes away.
According to the police report, the victim, whose home was broken into, said that he was watching TV in his garage when three black males wearing black masks broke in, pointed handguns and demanded money from him.
One of the men reportedly took the victim's wallet and phone while striking the victim with the bottom of his firearm.
The two other suspects went into his house and reportedly opened some kitchen drawers then all three of the suspects left the location on foot.
According to the report, there was also a female in the home during the break in who allegedly heard them come in the home and ran to her room and locked the door.
The victim then notified police.
Shortly after, Deputies then received a call about an additional robbery that happened near the location of the break-in.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said that the deputies located the vehicle linked to the construction site scene on Fred Avenue South, but the person behind the wheel took off - resulting in a high-speed chase that deputies say led to the suspect hitting two vehicles and almost ramming into a school bus.
Once Deputies got to the vehicle, they were able to identify the two suspects and as they were being detained, deputies also located a Springfield XD firearm lying on the ground next to the vehicle according to the report.
Two of the suspects were arrested and identified as Demetrius Beckworth, who was allegedly driving the vehicle and Willie Bell. They have been arrested for a home invasion with a firearm or deadly weapon, and a violation of F.S.S. 812.135 (2a) according to the report.
According to the report, the Detective on the case made contact with the victim.
The victim provided his statement and it was noted in the report that the Detective observed that the victim had sustained a contusion to his left side of his head.
Beckworth and Bell are reported to be transferred to the Lee County Jail for proper booking procedures.
“What you see here is you try to commit a violent act in my county…it’s not going to happen. No matter what we have to do, we are going to win, the residents are going to be safe and I’m not going to tolerate it."
