Youth counselor charged in church burglary
Charlotte County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a youth counselor in connection with a burglary at his church. Jeremy Scott Walker, 19, of 1489 Carswell Ave., Port Charlotte was charged with burglary and grand theft.
CCSO received a call Sep. 6 concerning a burglary to Palm Tabernacle Ministries, 390 Flamingo Blvd., Port Charlotte. The rear door was found open, the administrator’s door damaged, and a filing cabinet was forced open to get keys to the safe. The safe contained cash and checks which were stolen. Crime Scene technicians located fingerprints on the cash envelope in the safe, and on a couch next to the key box.
The church installed a security camera due to a recent theft that showed a white male, large in stature, wearing what appeared to be a mask and baggy T-shirt. The church administrator and pastor told detectives the man in the video resembled their youth counselor, Walker. On Sept. 8, crime scene technicians matched the fingerprints to Walker, officials said.
Detectives picked up Walker at his home Monday and transported him to the Mid-County Office.
The money reportedly was taken to purchase drugs, officials said.
The Port Charlotte High School student was arrested and then transported to the Charlotte County Jail. He remains in jail on $5,000 bond.
Source: Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office