SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Milton Man on GPS in Custody on Burglary and Theft Charges

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Investigators have arrested a Milton man on charges stemming from the burglary of a storage unit in late August. The complaint began on 8/24/07 when a renter of a self-storage unit (Dogwood Storage) noticed that their lock had been cut off of their unit and numerous items had been removed. Deputies and Crime Scene Investigators then responded and processed the scene for fingerprints and other evidence. This processing revealed a fingerprint on a washing machine that was located in the back of the storage unit. The fingerprint was found to belong to Douglas Council Sr., who is a maintenance worker at the storage facility. During the investigation it was found that three other units had also been burglarized. The victim of the first burglary had found a fast food receipt inside their storage unit dated 8/11/07 at 2:04 pm . The victim stated that this was not their receipt and it shouldn't have been inside their storage unit. Investigators found that Douglas Council Sr. is on court ordered GPS due to numerous “peeping tom” incidents that occurred in Santa Rosa County . A check with the GPS Division of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office showed that Council had been at the fast food establishment at the date and time listed on the receipt. The check also revealed that Council was located at the original storage unit in question, traveling back and forth to another storage unit located on the same property. When investigators went to the second storage unit, they found that it was secured with a lock. This storage unit was supposed to be vacant with no lock. The manager and investigators entered the second storage unit and found that it contained items that had been stolen from four different units that had been burglarized. Investigators believe that Council had been burglarizing other storage units and storing these items in the second storage unit. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Council for the charges listed below. Other charges are expected in the future. Council is being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail with no bond.

Suspect:

Douglas Wayne Council Sr., W/M, 59 years old

6400 Block of Lynwood Circle , Milton , FL

Charges:

Burglary, 1 count, 3 rd degree felony

Grand Theft, 1 count, 3 rd degree felony

Felony Criminal Mischief, 1 count, 3 rd degree felony

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

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