August 11, 2011
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

THREE TEENS ARRESTED FOR THEFT OF GUNS & ELECTRONICS

Three DeLand teens were arrested Wednesday afternoon after it was discovered that they had broken into a local house and stolen several guns, electronics and jewelry. The stolen goods were returned to their owner who had not even known his home had been broken into yet. The three young men were charged with a number of offenses including armed burglary, grand theft and tampering with evidence.

An anonymous tip to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office indicated that Jamonte Whites and a couple of other suspects were driving around the Spring Hill neighborhood near DeLand and possibly selling guns out of their car. Investigators didn’t waste any time on following up on the information, and at about noontime the suspicious vehicle was found. There was a battery arrest warrant for Whites, and he was spotted in the back seat of the car. This prompted an investigator to conduct a traffic stop. The car pulled over, but then two males jumped out and fled on foot. Deputies established a perimeter around the area, resulting in the apprehension of Whites, Trevon Lacy and Derrick Solomon. Inside the stopped car was a handgun on the floor of the rear seat area.

When the three were searched, Lacy had a pocket watch and two rings that were later determined to be stolen. Investigators received consent to search the home where Whites was staying, 4 Lenox Court, and found inside a television and laptop computer that were also stolen. During interviews with the suspects, it was found that they had broken a window to get inside a house on Stewart Avenue, and stole several items from inside to include five long guns. The guns were then stashed in a vacant house on Thompson Avenue. Deputies went to that house, retrieved the weapons, and contacted the owner who said that no one had permission to be there. The owner of the Stewart Avenue home was also contacted. He was not at home at the time of the burglary and so had not known about the break in until investigators called him.

Whites, 17, was charged with two counts of armed burglary, possession of a concealed firearm, and resisting arrest without violence.

Lacey, 16, was charged with two counts of armed burglary, grand theft, possession of a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and tampering with evidence.

Solomon, 16, was charged with two counts of armed burglary, grand theft, and tampering with evidence.