On July 8, 2012, Lakeland Police received a call in reference to a black male, carrying a backpack coming out of a vacant house at 1928 W Lake Parker Avenue. Police had a similar report in another neighborhood within the past week. An officer was in the area when the call went out, and observed the subject on a bicycle westbound on Bella Vista Street. When the officer tried to stop the subject, he fled on foot into a retirement home at the corner of Bella Vista and Lake Avenue. Police units surrounded the immediate area. A K9 officer and his partner were called and were able to track and apprehend the arrestee. While fleeing, the suspect tried to get in a window of an apartment at the retirement home.
The suspect is identified as 39 year old Maccio Houston (B/M, DOB 9/8/72). During apprehension, Houston sustained a dog bite to his left leg. He was treated at Lakeland Regional Medical Center and released.
The backpack contained stripped copper wiring. The house at the event location had wiring and copper insulation lying on the floor. The A/C / Heating units and water heater had been stripped of wire matching that in the backpack. Houston was charged with two counts of burglary, possession of burglary tools, felony criminal mischief, resisting officer without violence, and petit theft.
-posted by Ann Dinges, PIO
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