VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Less than a week after a felon was released on bail from the Orange County Jail after being charged in nearly three dozen car break-ins, deputies said he is back behind bars for a similar crime, but this time in Volusia County.
Saevon Broaden, 22, was arrested Monday on new burglary and grand theft charges, less a week after he was freed on bail following his arrest in connection with nearly three dozen car burglaries at the University of Central Florida.
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"Mr. Broaden you have two charges, one is a grand theft of a motor vehicle, I'm finding probable cause, appointing a public defender, and setting bond at $5,000," Judge Judith Davidson told Broaden at his first court appearance on Tuesday. "Your next one is a burglary of a structure or conveyance, I'm finding probable cause, appointing a public defender, setting bond at $5,000 for a total of $10,000."
Broaden and Craig Blunt Jr., 19, were driving stolen vehicles around to cellphone stores in New Smyrna Beach early Monday, attempting to break in, deputies said.
Surveillance video caught the pair on camera and deputies intercepted them when they tried to break into a Metro PCS store in Deltona, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspects tried to run and were tracked to a wooded area in DeBary with K-9s and helicopter units.
New Smyrna Beach police are investigating the burglary cases and the Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of the vehicles Broaden and Blunt were driving.
Broaden was arrested and charged on April 28 by UCF police. He posted more than $40,000 bail on May 2, according to the Orange County Clerk of Courts website.
On Tuesday, News 6 contacted spokespersons for both the Volusia and Orange County State Attorney's Offices to ask why bond was set low enough that Broaden could bond out, but did not receive a response from either office.
UCF Police Chief Richard Beary said Broaden is a career criminal with 52 felony arrests and is a documented gang member. He said Broaden's criminal history is “far longer and scarier” than that of a second suspect, Luther Braddy, 21, who was arrested earlier this month in connection with the break-ins case.
Police said additional charges were added against Broaden because he posted a Facebook Live video showing him lying in bed holding a Glock handgun as a 3-week-old infant lies in bed next to him.
"Police can't get on me," Broaden said to the camera.
Beary said that video was a key piece of evidence and allowed authorities to slap on three additional charges: child neglect, possession of a firearm by a felon and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
"That's a 3-week-old infant with a career criminal and a convicted felon who knows he's not supposed to be in possession of a firearm," Beary said. "When you think about this type of case here's a guy who's carrying a gun, who's armed all the time. what would have happened if somebody would have challenged him while he's out breaking into cars?"
Broaden was booked into the Volusia County Jail Monday and ordered held on $7,500 bail.