Summary: Nine people were arrested in Fort Lauderdale after being caught on video by a TV crew looting several retail stores.
Caught on camera went to a whole new level for media crews in Fort Lauderdale. As Hurricane Irma rolled through Florida Saturday and Sunday, media crews were on site prepared to catch the storm’s damage on video. What those cameras caught was more than just storm damage – they caught looter’s wreaking havoc on stores.
Reporters for local 10 News had their cameras rolling when they caught a group of looters breaking through a store window and leaving with handfuls of stolen items. Using the camera footage, Fort Lauderdale police were able to arrest nine individuals who broke into Simon’s Sportswear on Sunrise Boulevard and Powerline Road.
The looters broke the front window, entered the store and then walked out with the stolen items. The looters moved on to Foot Locker and Cash American Pawn down the street. The Broward Sheriff’s Office posted on Twitter after seeing Local 10’s report: “ATTENTION LOOTERS; Every incident will be investigated. Evidence collected will be used to pursue charges after the fact.” Pembroke Pines Police Department issued a similar warning to looters: “Any looters who come to Pembroke Pines will be greeted by our officers. Choose wisely and stay home.”
With the footage evidence, it only took police a few hours to catch the culprits. In total, three teenagers and six adults were arrested. They have been identified as Kenneth Pinkney, Tyrell Pratt, Zara Dumornay, Michael Brown, Rossano Henry Jr, and Teonkhi Robinson.
Fort Lauderdale police Chief Rick Maglione said, “Going to prison over a pair of sneakers is a fairly bad life choice. Stay home and look after your loved ones and be thankful they are all safe.” The criminals were charged with burglary during a natural disaster.
The jail records indicate that Henry, 22, Pratt, 23, Brown, 20, and Pinkney, 18, were charged with burglary, violating emergency measures and resisting an officer without violence. Twenty-year-old Dumornay was charged with burglary and violating established emergency measures. The senior of the group, 38-year-old Robinson was charged with burglary, contributing to the delinquency of a child, and violating established emergency measures.
Florida’s police agencies promised to keep on top of looters but the dangerous conditions from the pummeling wind have made it difficult. The police department was able to catch two other men charged in other hurricane-related crimes. They posted their mug shots with the comment, “Can’t say we didn’t warn you…28 YOs Ryan Cook & Max Saintvil each face 6 counts of burglary from overnight #HurricaneIrma.”
Other looting arrests before the hurricane actually hit include 30-year-old Keith Francis Adams by St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputies.
What would you do if you say people looting a store during a natural disaster? Would you record them and call the police, confront them or just stay out of it? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about looters and Hurricane Irma, read these articles:
- Hurricane Irma Named Most Powerful Storm in Atlantic Ocean Ever
- Blackouts and Looting Caused by Argentine Default
- Lawsuit Filed against Florida Police Department That Vowed to Arrest Fugitives During Hurricane Irma
Photo: defense.gov