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Highlands Today

COP BRIEFS/ Compiled By JOE SEELIG

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: August 13, 2008

Stolen Pressure Washer Recovered

AVON PARK - An Avon Park man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $6,500 bond Tuesday after he was arrested and charged in connection with a burglary and theft of his stepfather's pressure washer.

Joshua William Gause, 26, of 1121 N. Lakewood Ave., was arrested Monday on a warrant and charged with burglary or a structure, petty theft and dealing in stolen property.

According to a Highlands County Sheriff's Office arrest report, deputies went to the 1800 block of North Sapphire Road on Aug. 5, where the victim reported the theft of a pressure washer machine that he had last seen in his shed on Saturday, Aug. 2.

He told the deputy he suspected his stepson, Gause, who he had told numerous times to stay away from his shed, alleging Gause had taken tools from the shed before, according to the report.

The victim told investigating deputy Henry Smith that Gause was an inmate at the county jail on Aug. 5 if Smith wanted to speak with him.

Gause was in jail on a charge of giving a false name to a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop for a license plate light being out. He had a valid driver's license but didn't want to show it because he didn't want to get a ticket, the report stated.

Gause reportedly agreed to speak to sheriff's investigators.

He accused his friend of taking the machine and riding along when the friend sold it.

The friend, in turn, told the deputy another story, claiming the machine was already in the car when he rode with Gause the day Gause sold the machine to a man for $50.

The friend said Gause asked him if he knew anyone who might buy it and directed him to the buyer.

Smith recovered the machine from the buyer who said Gause told him the machine was his to sell, before he bought it from Gause for $50.

Man Accused Of Pulling Door Handles

LAKE PLACID - A Lake Placid man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bond Tuesday, after he was arrested in connection with an attempted burglary in the 100 block of Plumosa Avenue.

James Darryl White, 46, of 308 Washingtonia St., was charged with attempted burglary of a structure or conveyance while unarmed with person inside and trespassing at an occupied structure.

Lake Placid Police Det. Sgt. James Fansler reported he was called to the 100 block of Plumosa Avenue about an attempted burglary of a residence that happened sometime between 4 and 6 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8.

The victim told Fansler that her neighbor saw a man pulling on the door handles of her truck and said the man went from one door to another trying to get in. The witness told Fansler she was sitting outside smoking cigarettes when she saw the man walk down the road and enter the victim's carport.

After a verbal exchange with the man, he cursed at her and walked away, the report stated. Police presented the witness with a photo lineup. She told them she probably could identify him if she heard his voice again.

Fansler played a tape for the witness of White speaking during an interview. She identified the voice. Fansler then presented the witness with a new photo lineup with White's photo among the choices. The witness reportedly immediately picked White out of the lineup.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com

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