By Tamas Mondovics
FishHawk Creek and Bevis Elementary Schools in FishHawk were on modified lock down for a little more then an hour last month after receiving an alert from law enforcement that Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies were pursuing several suspects involved in multiple burglaries within a nearby neighborhood.
According to HCSO spokes person Debbie Carter, observing suspicious individuals approaching doors within the FishHawk neighborhood of Gannet Glade a resident called Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Thanks to the resident’s vigilance, within minutes of responding to the area deputies observed Randy Angel Ramos, 22, and Michael Angelo Beriguette, 21, both of Tampa, fleeing the residence of 6117 Gannetwood Place loading items into a 2003 Toyota Corolla that has been confirmed stolen one day earlier from 4747 Waters Avenue West in Tampa.
Taking flight in the stolen car, Ramos and Beriguette fled for a short distance before crashing into a fence. The two then fled on foot resulting in K9 deputies tracking two of the three suspects and found them hiding in bushes approximately a half a mile from where they had fled the stolen vehicle, deputies said.
Stolen items recovered from the vehicle included televisions, computers laptops and jewelry as Ramos and Beriguette were both arrested at the scene and transported to the Hillsborough County Jail. “The third suspect, possibly a Hispanic male remains at large,” Carter said.
During the incident, Hillsborough County Public Schools spokes person Linda Cobbe said, “A full or a modified lockdown as in this case is for the safety of our students and staff, as often we do not know the extent of the crime or what is going on and want to make sure our students are safe,” Cobbe said.
Upon his arrest Ramos was charged with grand theft motor vehicle, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, no valid driver’s license, armed burglary of a dwelling, grand theft, obstructing or opposing an officer w/o violence.
Beriguette was also charged with armed burglary of a dwelling, grand theft, obstructing or opposing an officer, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, robbery with a weapon, armed burglary of a dwelling, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).
