FELLSMERE — A Fellmere man has been arrested for two burglaries in an 18-hour span.
Willie Bibbs, 32, was nabbed and faces charges of felony burglary of an occupied structure, and misdemeanor trespass or attempted trespass of an occupied dwelling/conveyance,
On Saturday around 3:40 a.m. in the 200 block of S. Mulberry Street, an officer responded to investigate the report of a burglary to an occupied residence, according to Fellsmere Police.
The victim was sleeping on his couch when the burglary occurred, according to the press release. He was awakened by Bibbs knocking on the sliding glass door next to him.
The investigation revealed that Bibbs had entered the home uninvited, walked past the victim toward the kitchen and began asking for food, beer and money, according to police.
The victim did not know Bibbs and asked him several times to leave, according to authorities. The victim’s brother also asked him to leave. Bibbs ignored both and opened the refrigerator, multiple cabinets and drawers looking for food.
The brothers gave him a package of tortillas to avoid any conflict and continued to ask him to leave. Bibbs left, but returned a short time later, according to police. Again, he knocked on the sliding glass door, asking for food, beer and money. He was told to leave, and did.
After Bibbs left, one of the victims realized a pair of pants that had his phone, wallet $5 was missing, according to authorities. They then called 911.
Again on Saturday, around 7:30 a.m., the same officer responded to a residence in the 100 block of S. Elm Street to investigate the report of a suspicious person, according to the release. When the officer arrived he identified the suspect as Bibbs.
Bibbs was found sitting in the second victim’s vehicle and refused to get out, according to police. He was forcibly removed from the vehicle by the victim. When Bibbs was removed, he was carrying two beers.
He then began walking down South Elm Street drinking the beers, according to police. As he walked he began cursing and yelling at everyone in the area.
Bibbs later stated without prompting that he went in the victim’s vehicle but realized it was not his friend’s vehicle when he saw the victim’s cousin, according to authorities. He stated numerous times that he did not “steal anything” and all he did was sit inside the vehicle and drink his beer.
Given his physical description and the proximity to the burglary on South Mulberry Street, another officer located the victims of that crime and transported them to where Bibbs was located to conduct a “show-up” for identification purposes, according to police. Both victims in that case positively identified Bibbs as the person who entered their residence earlier that morning.
Bibbs is being held in lieu of $40,000 bond at the Indian River County Jail.
This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding these or other crimes not yet reported are encouraged to contact the Fellsmere Police Department at (772) 571-1360. Callers can remain anonymous.
