3 Charged In Early Morning Crime Spree

Three men face numerous charges, including attempted murder, for an early morning crime spree that started in Sebring and ended with a pursuit and arrests in Lake Placid.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office reports that a gray van, which was used in two burglaries, was stolen from the New Life Way Church of Sebring. The suspects burglarized the Caddyshack Restaurant in Sebring where they took a safe and a plasma TV.

About 2:30 a.m. Monday, Deputy Sheriff Richard Williams was heading home in an unmarked vehicle after he ended his shift when he spotted a burglary in progress at the Raceway convenience store south of Sebring, according to a sheriff's office report.

Williams called for assistance and the suspects became suspicious and fled in the gray colored van, heading south on U.S. 27 and then west on State Road 66.

At one point the suspects threw a safe out of the back of the van in an attempt to stop Williams' pursuit, the report states. The driver of the suspect vehicle abruptly made a U-turn and headed directly toward Williams, trying to ram the deputy's vehicle.

On reaching the intersection of U.S. 27 and State Road 66, the suspect vehicle turned south on U.S. 27 toward Lake Placid, the report shows. At the Josephine Creek Bridge, deputies used stop sticks to deflate the van's tires.

The van continued to Lake Placid where the three suspects fled on foot in different directions, the report states. Sheriff's office K-9s began searching, and one suspect was arrested after he tried to steal another vehicle in the Tomoka Heights area. Two other suspects were located later and arrested in a wooded area.

Those arrested are: Renny Arthur, 36, of Alva; Dedric Gandy, 31, of Fort Myers and Joshua Wilson, 22, of Lehigh Acres.

They were being held Monday without bond in the Highlands County Jail.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office in cooperation with the Sebring and Lake Placid police departments charged the three with burglary, grand theft and attempted murder, the report said.

Stolen from the Raceway store was a safe with an undetermined amount of money, which was recovered, the report states. The safe and TV that was stolen from the Caddy Shack restaurant has also been recovered.

Deputies believe it is possible that there was a fourth suspect and another vehicle involved with the Raceway convenience store burglary.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is asking residents to call in any suspicious vehicle that appears abandoned or left at a vacant residence.

Witnesses or persons with information may also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) to make an anonymous report and be eligible for a cash reward.