Man Charged In LP Business Burglary

A Lake Placid man remained in Highlands County Jail without bond Thursday after police say his DNA linked him to the scene of a burglary and grand theft at the Jalisco Food Market at 928 S. Main Ave., in Lake Placid.

David Wayne Cresong, 44, of 138 Washingtonia Blvd., Lake Placid, was charged Wednesday with burglary of a structure, grand theft $300 or more but less than $5,000 and criminal mischief $200 or less.

He was released Wednesday on $2,500 bond, according to Sheriff's Central Records, but he was rearrested Thursday and was being held without bond on a new misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lake Placid Police Det. Sgt. James Fansler said the Thursday arrest came as a result of a search warrant.

"We did a search and drug paraphernalia was found in his possession," Fansler said, adding that Cresong was a suspect in other burglaries in the area.

According to the initial incident report, the burglary took place on April 27, when police say Cresong used a hammer to enter the rear of the store.

Once inside he went to the counter and removed an undisclosed amount of cash from a bank bag, $500 in change and reportedly took 20 cartons of Marlboro cigarettes.

Fansler said he developed Cresong as a suspect and that he voluntarily gave Fansler a mouth swab sample of his DNA for analysis. It was compared to a blood sample found at the crime scene, which determined "within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty" that Cresong is the source of the blood sample.