SHERIFF
www.hernandosheriff.org
Al Nienhuis
P.O. BOX 10070 – BROOKSVILLE, FL 34603-0070
FAX 352 796-0493
PHONE 352 754-6830
Media Release
From:
Denise M. Moloney
Community/Media Relations Manager, 352-797-3609
Re:
Observant Citizens Notify Deputies of Crime Spree in Progress
Date:
August 26, 2016
More than likely in the recent past, you have heard the term “If You See Something, Say
Something.” Luckily, a Weeki Wachee couple had heard the term and took the advice.
While out for an early morning walk on 08-25-16 in the River Run Condominium Community,
the couple observed several juveniles checking car door handles and entering vehicles
throughout the community. The couple immediately notified law enforcement.
When deputies began arriving on scene, the suspects fled on foot.
Patrol deputies immediately established a perimeter. The HCSO Aviation Unit and a K-9
team were also called to the area to locate the suspects.
Working together, patrol deputies, aviation, and K-9 located three suspects in a heavily
wooded area near the complex. The last suspect to be located in the wooded area was
hiding from the deputies. This individual, later identified as Pablo Concepcion, was located
and bitten by K-9 Justice. Concepcion received a dog bite to his leg for which he was later
medically cleared.
Deputies believed there was still a fourth suspect at large.
While responding to the scene to conduct the investigation, Detective Mike O’Brien
observed a black male walking near the roadway in the area of River Run. Detective O’Brien
checked out with the individual and learned it was the fourth suspect who was still at large.
All suspects were then accounted for. This suspect was later identified as Raphael Thomas
B/M DOB/09-01-1998. Detectives later learned that there was an outstanding warrant for his
arrest from Hillsborough County for the offense of Robbery w/a Firearm in which he was to
be tried as an adult upon being taken into custody.
Through investigation, detectives learned that all four juveniles traveled to Hernando
County in a vehicle that they stole in Hillsborough County. They intended to commit more
crimes in Hernando County and then “split the proceeds amongst them” before returning
home. Once they arrived at the River Run complex, they immediately stole a vehicle and
drove it within the complex. (It is unknown if they intended to take the car back to
Hillsborough County). As a part of the crime spree, the four juveniles burglarized 14
different vehicles inside the complex, rummaging for anything of value they could find. It
should be noted, all of the vehicles that were burglarized were UNLOCKED.
“Observant citizens are our best defense against crime. Whether it is a moving company
van in front of the neighbors’ house while they are at work or some suspicious activity in the
middle of the night, we appreciate those calls, even when the suspicions turn out to be
explainable. One neighbor spending a little time on the front porch during a sleepless night
instead of watching television, for example, can help protect a whole neighborhood. When
citizens are observant and lock their car doors, it can go a long way toward driving crime out
of Hernando County,” Said Sheriff Al Nienhuis.
The suspects arrested are as follows:
•
TaMichael Broadnax B/M DOB/05-12-2000
o Burglary of Conveyance – 14 counts
o Released to parent/guardian per DJJ
•
Pablo Concepcion B/M DOB/06-19-1999
o Burglary of Conveyance – 14 counts
o Grand Theft Auto
o Detained per DJJ
o Also a missing Juvenile out of Hillsborough County and a suspect in numerous
Grand Theft Auto cases outside of Hernando County
•
Jorge Fernandez B/M DOB/02-27-2000
o Burglary of Conveyance – 14 counts
o Grand Theft Auto
o Released to parent/guardian per DJJ
•
Raphael Thomas B/M DOB/09-01-1998
o Burglary of Conveyance – 14 counts
o Detained per DJJ.
The case remains under investigation.
The Office of Sheriff:
The Office of the Sheriff is established by the Florida Constitution. As a constitutional officer, the Sheriff has
the exclusive authority to administer his or her agency and is responsible for preserving the peace
throughout the entire county, carrying out the laws of the state, the orders of Florida courts, and the
ordinances of the Board of County Commissioners. The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement and correctional
officer of the county.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis was initially appointed as the Sheriff of Hernando County by the Governor in January of
2011. He was then elected by the people of Hernando County in 2012, and remains accountable to them.