Police: Looters Busted In Lee County
We’ve all seen the warning signs, spray painted on dented garage doors or across the front of storm-damaged houses…”YOU LOOT, WE SHOOT!”
It’s a pretty clear message. If you trespass and try to steal some of our stuff, especially right after a major storm has ruined our lives, you are likley to get high-speed lead poisoning. Special laws kick in during and after disasters. If you take advantage of the people who are already suffering, you will pay more dearly than usual. Police say they observed two men allegedly looting from a shed in Lee County over the weekend. Investigators say deputies observed a shed that had been forced into some mangroves by Hurricane Ian’s storm surge. The deputies remembered that the door of the shed was closed the last time they saw it. But now, it was open and a jetski was sitting beside the door. Furthermore, there were two men standing next to the jetski. Deputies questioned the two men, identified as 38-year-old Dustin Oran Ballentine and 29-year-old Austin Charles Ballentine.
After questioning, the deputies placed both men under arrest. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno made a public statement after the arrest, vowing that looters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law when caught, saying with teamwork, law and odrer will be ensured in Lee County. The two suspected looters have been charged with grand theft and burglary of a structure during a state of emergency. Considering we are in the state of Florida, I guess getting arrested is better than getting shot. Source: WFLA.com
Looting Has Been Kept At A Minimum…So Far
Police Are Actively Searching For Looters Across Ian’s Path
Hurricane Ian Aftermath
