PORT ORANGE, Fla. – A teenage boy who tried to break into a Port Orange apartment was instead confronted by residents who were able to disarm him using an ax, according to police.
Port Orange police responded to the Legacy at Crystal Lake apartment complex on Floral Springs Boulevard at 1:46 p.m. Tuesday where a resident holding an ax had detained a 16-year-old who attempted to burglarize his unit, according to a news release from the department.
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The teenage suspect was in his boxers on the floor and the apartment was a mess with the table flipped over and other obvious signs of a struggle, records show.
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Police said the 16-year-old, two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old attempted to enter the apartment. The 16-year-old was able to get inside, carrying a stolen 9 mm handgun, while the other teens fled, according to the news release.
The residents said the boy knocked on their door and when one of them opened it, the boy pushed his way inside, records show.
The man who opened the door grabbed the boy to direct the gun away from him and that’s when another man heard the commotion and jumped in to help, choking the teen, according to the report.
A third man living in the apartment also heard the scuffle and when he saw what was happening, he went to his room, got an ax and held it to the teen’s head, prompting the boy to drop the weapon, police said.
Once he was disarmed, the residents told the boy to take his clothes off so they could make sure he didn’t have any other weapons, the affidavit said. Only an extra magazine containing bullets was found.
Three of the men from inside the apartment left with the gun once the boy was disarmed while the man with the ax stayed behind. They returned once police arrived to hand over the weapon.
A neighbor called 911 after hearing the commotion and he was able to identify the other boys the teenage burglary suspect was with, police said.
The three other teens were located and arrested on various charges. The 16-year-old was charged with burglary and theft of a firearm. One of the 13-year-olds was charged with fleeing and eluding as well as driving without a license.
All four teens were taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice.