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Sebring Burglary Suspect Tasered

EX-GIRLFRIEND PRESSES BURGLARY CHARGE

Curtis P. Townsel, 23

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: May 29, 2008

Updated: 05/29/2008 06:06 pm

Editor's Note: This story was corrected from an earlier version due to an error in material received from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.

SEBRING — In order to avoid a physical confrontation with a burglary suspect with blood on his hands, a sheriff's deputy Tasered him after he repeatedly told the suspect to get on the ground, but instead continued to walk toward him.

Curtis P. Townsel, 23, of 207 S. Lake Moody Drive, Frostproof, was booked into the Highlands County Jail on Tuesday on charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

He was released Wednesday afternoon on $5,500 bail.

According to deputy Scott Williams' report, at 1:39 a.m. Tuesday, he was in the 3000 block of Villabella Drive in Sebring with Deputy Justin Clemmons, answering a burglary-in-progress call.

When they arrived he saw a man standing in front of the home. The window to the front door had been broken and Townsel had blood on his hands. Williams didn't want to get into the physical struggle nor did he want to become contaminated with his blood, according to the report. Townsel continued to walk toward Williams until he was within 10 feet of the deputy.

Williams fired and Townsel was restrained by Clemmons, who placed the suspect into handcuffs.
Williams noted that he smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Townsel, his eyes were glossy and his speech was slurred.

After initially denying involvement in the burglary attempt, and said he saw the broken window and was trying to check on his girlfriend who lived there, Williams reported that Townsel finally told them he reached inside, but was unable to get in because the inside dead-bolt needed a key.

He told investigators that he then walked around the house and tried to get in by opening a window. Two screens behind the home were pried out, the report stated.

He then told investigators that he didn't need to break in because he had a key. But he couldn't find it when he searched his key ring.

When the ex-girlfriend returned home, she told deputies that she didn't give Townsel permission to be in her house and that she broke up with Townsel. She told deputies that she asked for the key the day before and Townsel gave it to her.

She told deputies that they had lived together at a different residence, but Townsel never lived with her there and that she had just moved in. The key was found inside the residence.

The ex-girlfriend decided to pursue the burglary charge.

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