Two-month investigation ends in seven arrests
At least two men remained in custody Tuesday after a two-month-long operation by the Cape Coral police ended with the arrest of seven people.
Detectives with the Investigative Services Bureau’s Property Crimes Unit have been working with the department’s North District patrol officers and the Street Crimes Unit on a concentrated operation to identify suspects in several home and vehicle burglaries committed, mostly, in the north Cape.
“These arrests are the result of a coordinated and focused team effort by the Cape Coral police,” Connie Barron, spokeswoman for the Cape police, said in a prepared statement.
The seven people arrested and charged in the operation were:
– Codey Johnathan Figueroa, 17, of 2313 N.W. 11th Court
– Bethany Gail Bolten, 18, of 121 S.E. 18th St.
– Andrew Shane DeWitt, 16, of 432 S.W. 37th Lane
– Christopher Ryan Hurlburt, 14, of 1733 S.W. 40th Terrace
– Gary Daniel Sawyer, 24, of 18825 Nalle Road, North Fort Myers
– Daqwon A. Houston, 21, of 6681 Highland Pine Circle, Fort Myers
– James Earl Williams, 21, of 424 S.W. 23rd Terrace
Figueroa and Bolten were charged in the theft of a safe containing $1,000 from a home at 1901 N.W. 14th Ave., according to Barron. On Aug. 15, the victim told police that the safe had been stolen and Figueroa was present in the home when the theft occurred. On Aug. 27, detectives spoke to Bolten.
Bolten reportedly told police that she had taken her car to the home on the day of the theft. Her boyfriend, Figueroa, and another person allegedly put the safe in the truck of her vehicle. Bolten and Figueroa were each charged with one count of larceny grand theft more than $300 but less than $,5000.
Barron added that Figueroa also faces previous burglary charges for thefts at 1324 N.W. 12th Place and 2119 N.E. 19th Place, also reported in August.
Telephone messages left for Bolten were not immediately returned Tuesday.
Figueroa’s mother declined to comment on her son’s arrest Tuedsay.
On Sept. 19, the owner of a home at 207 N.E. 21st Place reported to police that someone had entered her home and stolen jewelry and other items. The items were valued at almost $4,000, Barron stated. During an investigation, detectives determined that Sawyer, who the victim knew, was responsible.
According to jail booking records, Sawyer faces one count each of armed burglary of dwelling structure or conveyance, fraud false statement verify ownership secondhand dealer under $300, fraud false owner information pawned items less than $300, fraud false owner information pawned items $300 or more, larceny grand theft $10,000 or more but less than $2,000, larceny theft $300 or more but less than $5,000 and grand larceny of firearm.
He also faces two counts each of dealing in stolen property and unarmed burglary of unoccupied dwelling no assault battery. Sawyer remained at the Lee County Jail on no bond Tuesday for charges tied to a prior arrest. They are one count each of larceny retail theft multiple locations within 48 hours and larceny theft $300 or more but less than $5,000.
According to Barron, detectives interviewed Dewitt at the Lee County Juvenile Assessment Center on Sept. 23. Dewitt denied breaking into any vehicles prior to a recent arrest, but he admitted to “car hopping” in the past and stealing GPS units. He told police that Hurlburt might have one.
Detectives later met with Hurlburt at his home. He allegedly stated that he and DeWitt had entered unlocked vehicles and taken GPS units. He turned over two units in his possession. Detectives tracked down the owner of one unit, who told police that the GPS unit was stolen from his vehicle in June.
DeWitt and Hurlburt were each charged with one count of unoccupied burglary of a conveyance and larceny grand theft more than $300 but less than $5,000.
A telephone message left for DeWitt was not immediately returned Tuesday, while Hurlburt could not be reached for comment.
On Sept. 28, patrol officers responded to a suspicious call from a home at 311 N.E. Sixth St. Detectives were alerted and they responded, according to Barron. Houston and Williams were observed walking around the home. Police confronted them and discovered a piece of jewelry inside a stolen vehicle being used by the two men.
Houston was charged with one count each of loitering or prowling and grand theft of a motor vehicle, and Williams was charged with loitering or prowling.
Williams was charged the next day with one count each of marijuana possession with intent to sell manufacture or deliver, possess conceal weapon firearm by convicted felon and narcotic equipment possess and or use, according to jail booking records. He remained at the Lee County Jail on no bond Tuesday.
No telephone number was available Tuesday for Houston.
“The investigation into the burglaries is continuing, and additional arrests and/or charges may still occur,” Barron wrote in the prepared statement.