ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Three Indian River County men have been arrested after the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office connected them to 19 vehicle burglaries in the Lakewood Park community.
The arrests happened after authorities began to investigate a reported vehicle burglary at 6603 Pensacola Road in Lakewood Park on July 17.
“While driving to the call, deputies spotted a white male standing on the side of the road near the intersection of Pensacola Road and Eastwood Drive,” said Sheriff Ken Mascara. That man was later identified as 19-year-old Alexander Parnell.
“Parnell was carrying a bag and when asked to look inside the bag to make sure there were no weapons, deputies located various items consistent with what was reported stolen,” Mascara said.
Parnell was questioned by detectives and admitted to “car hopping” with two friends, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“Car hopping is where an individual goes from car to car checking to see if any doors are unlocked and then pilfering through any that are open for items of value,” Mascara said.
Parnell later identified for detectives the two friends as Calius Judon, 18, and John Crankfield, 19. All three live in Indian River County, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff Mascara said Crankfield and Judon are cousins and live near Parnell and have conducted similar car-hopping sprees in Indian River County.
“Parnell stated to our detectives that Judon was in search of a gun and the others were simply looking for money or anything of value,” Mascara said. “Fortunately, he was unable to locate (a gun), since it’s unclear exactly why he wanted a firearm.”
According to the Sheriff, detectives gathered sufficient information to issue warrants for Judon and Crankfield and both were arrested by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
“The efficient and diligent work of our first-responding road patrol units, our detectives and our crime scene technicians allowed us to make arrests in this string of burglaries within just two weeks,” Mascara said. “This should serve as a warning that if you commit a burglary in St. Lucie County, we will find you and you will be arrested.”
The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to lock their vehicles. In each of the 19 cases, items were stolen from unlocked vehicles, which “made for a perfect opportunity for these criminals,” Sheriff Mascara said.
Parnell is being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on a $215,000 bond. Judon and Crankfield were booked into the Indian River County Jail each on a $10,000 bond.
