[PHOTO CREDIT: iStock / EdwardSamuelCornwall]

[Original Publish Date: 11/19/19]

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FRUITLAND PARK, Florida — A porch pirate, who asked a deputy how he looked on camera, was arrested for stealing packages Saturday.

A woman spotted a white Ford Explorer drop a white male and a black male off Saturday on Eagle’s Nest Road, who immediately went to her neighbor’s house and stole two packages containing items valued at $100. The woman confronted the men and they told her they were picking up their packages and the woman, who is close to her neighbors, knew this was untrue, according to an arrest affidavit. She told the men she was calling 911 and they dropped the packages and ran.

Fruitland Park police pulled over the Explorer and the female driver told the deputy the white male was her coworker, Emanuel Roman, but did not know the black male. The driver told police Roman asked for a ride to his house on Eagle’s Nest Road. Roman pointed out the theft victim’s house as his own and the pair was dropped off. The driver began to leave the area and the neighbor who spotted the porch pirates stopped her and asked her to wait for law enforcement, which she did.

The deputy made contact with Roman’s manager and asked him to call if Roman came in. A short while later, the manager called the deputy back and told him Roman came in, but fled to nearby apartments when his manager told him law enforcement was looking for him, the affidavit states. Law enforcement searched the area for about an hour and though Roman was spotted, deputies were unable to take him into custody. Roman was contacted by phone and agreed to meet with deputies at his house.

Roman was read his Miranda rights and asked why he was stealing the packages. “I was hoping I would find something good in the packages, but if I didn’t, oh well,” Roman answered. The deputy told Roman he was on video surveillance stealing the packages and he replied, “Did I look good on camera?”

Roman was charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, petit theft and resisting without violence. He was released from the Lake County Jail on $7,000 bond.

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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]