BSO Arrests Teen For Attempted Armed Burglary Moments Before Attempted Sexual Battery Of Child
COOPER CITY (CBSMiami) – The Broward Sheriff's Office has arrested a 16-year-old who deputies said tried to break into a townhome early Monday just minutes before the attempted sexual battery of a 7-year-old child.
Detectives from the BSO Special Victims Unit said the crime took place inside the Flamingo Lakes Townhomes Community in Cooper City off Flamingo Road.
The Sheriff's office told CBS4 its detectives were able to identify the 16-year-old from surveillance video released Monday night. The suspect faces one count of attempted armed burglary of a dwelling, according to BSO.
"Detectives continue to investigate the armed burglary with an attempted sexual battery of a 7-year-old victim," the Sheriff's Office wrote in a press release, which added additional charges are possible.
Investigators have not said how the child involved was able to get away.
"I locked my doors extra tight last night," said Nancy Jenkins who lives in the Flamingo Lakes Townhomes neighborhood. "So yeah, it's scary."
Jenkins told CBS4's Brooke Shafer she woke up on Monday morning and noticed three of her neighbor's townhomes were roped off with crime scene tape. She said the screens to their back porches had been slashed.
"I looked through my window across the lake and there was a lot of police there," Jenkins said.
A spokesperson for the BSO confirmed the 16-year-old arrested lives in the area but could not say if he lives in the Flamingo Lakes Townhomes neighborhood.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
