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Arrest of the week: APD apprehends two burglary suspects in less than 20 minutes

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Chief McKinley makes second arrest from a perimeter position

The Apopka Police Department responded to a burglary call last week that involved an unlawful entry into a home, pursuit of two suspects going in different directions, and ultimately the arrest of the two men within minutes of the 9-1-1 call. It was another impressive and rapid example of police teamwork that involved several APD officers, including Chief Michael McKinley.

Here is an account of the incident...

At 10:34am, APD officers were dispatched to a home on Piedmont Park Boulevard in reference to a burglary. APD dispatch advised that the female caller said there was a black truck in her driveway and she did not know who it belonged to. She stated that someone was at the front door knocking, and another person jumped the fence into the back yard. Then she heard glass break and someone walking around in the house.

Upon arrival at 10:37am, APD officers saw the truck at the caller’s house, but after driving to the end of the block, the truck had moved to a nearby residence on Piedmont Park Boulevard. As officers approached the truck, they learned from dispatch that two males had jumped a wall from the neighborhood and were in the Sam’s Club property on the other side of the wall at 1500 South Orange Blossom Trail.

Officers pursued the two men and detained 19-year-old Amari Lajuan Mitchell, but the pursuit took quite a few twists and turns before apprehending Mitchell.

Sedrick Lamar Hamilton Sedrick Lamar Hamilton

APD Lieutenant Christopher Hanstein chased Mitchell towards the store eastbound through the parking lot, weaving in and out of vehicles. As they made their way toward the front of the store, Hanstein advised Mitchell that if he did not stop he would be tased. Mitchell ran between a vehicle parked in the front of a handicapped parking spot and the cart return. At this time Hanstein was close enough to deploy his taser in an attempt to bring the actively resisting Mitchell to a stop. But as he shot at Mitchell, he struck the corner of the parked vehicle, causing him to fall and miss Mitchell with the Taser probes.

Hanstein got back up and continued chasing Mitchell who was now headed toward the entrance of Sam's Club where several women were attempting to close the doors, and yelling for Mitchell not to enter. Mitchell slammed into the women, causing them to fall backward, and striking them as he made entry.

As Hanstein entered the store in pursuit, he observed Mitchell running toward the rear of the store. He was able to cut at an angle toward the middle jewelry counter, closing the distance rapidly. Mitchell observed this and fell to the ground, ultimately surrendering after multiple commands to place his hands behind his back.

Officers were also advised that the other suspect had jumped back over the wall. He was later identified as 23-year-old Sedrick Lamar Hamilton.

That arrest went a little easier.

Dispatchers had advised the second suspect (Hamilton) had scaled the wall back into the subdivision. Upon hearing this, McKinley took up a perimeter position at Lake Pleasant Road and U.S. 441. While at this location, at approximately 10:52 AM, McKinley observed a black male walking across the parking lot of the Pentecostals of Apopka church located at 1427 S. Lake Pleasant Road.

The black male, wearing a grey t-shirt and red shorts, appeared to be talking on the phone to someone as he walked towards the intersection of Lake Pleasant Road and U.S. 441. McKinley asked over the radio if the second black male was wearing a grey t-shirt and red shorts and was advised that it matched the description of the second male. As Hamilton walked through the parking lot, McKinley exited his unmarked police vehicle and approached the subject, wearing an APD uniform. McKinley apprehended Hamilton, still on his cell phone, without incident.

18 minutes after the 9-1-1 call, both suspects had been arrested and transported to APD Headquarters.


 

Apopka Police Department, Burglary, Chief Michael McKinley

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