Sheriff's Office Continues To Search For Lake Sarasota Burglary Suspect

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office continued their search for a second burglary suspect into Thursday evening following finding one man linked to the crime.

The burglary occurred at the 7100 block of Largo Way before 11 a.m., when a man rang the victim's doorbell, then the victim heard a window being smashed in her home, according to the probable cause affidavit.

When deputies arrived, they heard a loud noise, which later was discovered to be from someone smashing through a fence, and the responding deputy questioned Yulier Martinez, 21, of 5860 Palm Ave., Hialeah, about what he was doing in the 2013 Ford Explorer parked in front of the victim's home, according to the affidavit.

Martinez told the deputy that he was passing out fliers for landscaping in the area, but the deputy also noticed the passenger seat was reclined as if someone was in it earlier, according to the affidavit, sending off a hunt for a second person, who likely broke into the home.

Martinez was charged for burglary of being an accomplice in a burglary in an occupied dwelling and booked into Sarasota County Jail, according to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office Air-1 helicopter, K-9 and other units assisted in the search. As a precaution, Lakeview Elementary and Oak Park School went on a limited lockdown, having students remain inside the building for a time and movement was restricted on campus.

When investigators searched the Explorer's records, they discovered it was a rental car that was in a woman's name in Hialeah, according to the affidavit. The woman claims that she doesn't know the defendant and said her husband was supposed to be in Orlando handing out fliers. The husband is not a suspect, but his records showed a criminal history of burglaries, according to the affidavit.

As of midnight Friday, the sheriff's office has not announced the capture of the second suspect.

Earlier in the evening, the a search by air and land continued, WWSB reports:

"Earlier Thursday evening, investigators set up a perimeter stretching from Proctor to Bee Ridge Roads in the Lake Sarasota area.  They also dispatched K-9 units and the Sheriff's helicopter after getting a tip about a suspicious person in the area."

The sheriff's office also says that daytime residential burglaries fit this pattern with suspicious cars in the neighborhood, then folks ringing doorbells and smashing into homes. If you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call police or Crimestoppers at 941-366-TIPS.