A Deland man who was arrested for burglary after breaking into a screened-in porch while children were home claimed he heard kids screaming inside.
A deputy driving east on U.S. Highway 42 was flagged down by two people in a red Jeep Wrangler who pointed out a pedestrian, later identified as 34-year-old Timothy Allen Gunter, further up the road around 11:0 a.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. They stated their kids just called and told them he broke into their house. The deputy directed the couple back to their house to call the Lake County Communications Center.
The deputy stepped out to Gunter who spontaneously stated he just got some bad drugs from an undisclosed house. He then gave the deputy his ID and a baggie containing a clear, crystal-like substance. He further advised that he had done a lot of drugs in his life, and the drugs he had just gotten had something wrong with them. He wanted them tested so as to not “kill someone,” the report said.
While the deputy was on scene, the LCCC received a call for a burglary complaint from the female victim. The deputy called her, and she provided a picture of the suspect who broke into her porch. It matched Gunter’s appearance, so he was detained before the deputy went to the victim’s residence, the report said.
The victim told the deputy that Gunter broke the locked wooden door on her porch and came onto her screened-in porch. Her children were home and recorded Gunter on the porch looking into the window and trying to get through the locked door which led to the living room where they were. The children got the dogs out of the back room, at which point Gunter left the residence. The victim called a neighbor to ask for his help, the report said.
The deputy next spoke to the neighbor who stated that after the victim called, he went out in front of his residence and saw a male leaving the property. This man was wearing a yellow shirt that he took off to reveal a white shirt underneath, the report said.
Meanwhile, the crystal-like substance tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine, the report said.
When leaving the residence, Gunter claimed he entered the residence because he heard dogs barking. He later changed this to say he entered due to hearing kids screaming, the report said.
Gunter was ultimately headed to jail, although he claimed to have chest pains and shortness of breath while on the way there. This led the deputy to stop and summon EMS to his location. They transported Gunter to AdventHealth Waterman, located at 1000 Waterman Way, but he refused any treatment in the ambulance according to paramedics. He also refused all treatment from hospital staff and was discharged, the report said.
Gunter was charged with burglary of occupied dwelling (unarmed), possession of methamphetamine and criminal mischief (damage property less than $200). He was taken to Lake County Jail with bond set at $18,000.
