Boat and Parts Stolen in Milton

SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Deputies Arrest Two Men for Burglarizing a Boat and Stealing Boat Parts in Milton

On 3/05/08 , Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to the 7000 block of Ella Street, Milton , FL in reference to a burglary in progress call. Deputies were told that there was a suspect behind a house taking parts off of a boat that was present. When deputies arrived, they located a male subject, later identified as Jerry Manning, behind the residence. When Manning saw the deputies, Manning fled on foot. Deputies chased Manning and were able to take him into custody. The owner of the boat was contacted by deputies and he returned to his house. The owner then inspected his boat and told deputies that his trolling motor, his Mercury outboard motor, a captain's chair, a fuel tank, and two deep cycle marine batteries were missing from his boat. There was also about $1500.00 worth of damage done to the boat during the removal of the above mentioned parts. Manning spoke with deputies and stated that he and his nephew, Alvin Cowan Jr., had parked their vehicle nearby at a boat ramp. Deputies were able to locate Cowan at the boat ramp in his vehicle. Deputies located tools that were used to commit the burglary inside the car. The suspects told deputies that this was their third time returning to the same boat to remove parts. They were there on 3/01/08 and 3/04/08 and took the majority of the parts. They were returning on 3/05/08 to remove the steering wheel. The suspects stated that the parts were located at their residence in Pensacola . Deputies went to that location and were able to recover the stolen boat parts. During a search of the property, deputies also discovered a stolen boat trailer that head been taken from another location in Milton on 3/03/08 . The trailer was returned to its owner. Both suspects were arrested and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail and booked on the charges listed below. Photographs of both suspects are attached to this email.

SUSPECTS:

Alvin William Cowan Jr., W/M, 38 years old, 200 Block of Rosalyn Blvd., Pensacola , FL

CHARGES:

Grand Theft (3 counts), Burglary (3 counts), Possession of Burglary Tools, Criminal Mischief

$36,000.00 BOND

Jerry Wayne Manning, W/M, 54 years old, 200 Block of Rosalyn Blvd., Pensacola , FL

CHARGES:

Grand Theft (2 counts), Burglary (3 counts), Possession of Burglary Tools, Criminal Mischief

$35,000.00 BOND

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net