A 28-year-old Lake Wales man is accused of crawling through the same bedroom window twice in one day, grabbing a handgun and threatening a woman inside the home. The alleged break-in led to 14 charges, including armed burglary, false imprisonment, aggravated stalking and drug possession.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says Eddie Roberson Jr. was arrested on Wednesday, June 17, after deputies responded to a nearby resident’s report of screams. Roberson was taken to the sheriff’s processing center after investigators said they recovered the firearm from beneath a dresser in the bedroom.
Two Entries Through The Same Bedroom Window
According to West Orlando News, Roberson first entered the residence around 1 a.m. A man inside the home reportedly heard a noise, found Roberson in the bedroom and told him to leave.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says Roberson returned later that same day and climbed through the window again. Investigators allege he picked up a handgun from a table near the window, pointed it at a woman who had woken up and threatened to kill her while preventing her from leaving.
The woman reportedly told deputies that Roberson wanted her to drop pending charges from an earlier case involving battery and a stolen firearm. A neighbor who heard screams called law enforcement, and deputies later found the handgun hidden under a dresser, according to the sheriff’s account.
Roberson Faces A Long List Of Allegations
As detailed by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the charges include armed burglary, unarmed burglary of a structure, attempted burglary of a dwelling and grand theft of a firearm. He also faces aggravated assault without intent to kill, tampering with evidence, tampering with a witness, false imprisonment and aggravated stalking.
The remaining counts are possession of a firearm in violation of a risk protection order, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and battery. Deputies also said they found methamphetamine in a pants pocket during the arrest, although Roberson allegedly claimed the pants were not his and later accused the woman of putting the drugs there.
Firearm Restriction Charge Included In Case
Florida’s risk protection order law allows a law enforcement officer or agency to ask a court for an order temporarily or finally restricting a person’s access to firearms and ammunition, according to the Florida Legislature. The sheriff’s charge list does not explain when the order was issued or how investigators say Roberson violated it.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and an arrest is not a conviction. The available reports did not include information about a court date, bond or an attorney representing Roberson.
