5 teens arrested in violent crime spree

Published: Updated:

UPDATE:
Damien Licquia, 17, was located in North Fort Myers and was taken into custody without incident. Deputies located Licquia and arrested him at 10:38 p.m. Tuesday evening.

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LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Four teenagers are under arrest following a violent and brazen crime spree that began early Saturday morning in North Fort Myers.

The teens identified as Dayna Mitchell, 18, Cody Williams, 17, Matthew Bowling, 16, and Cameron Girard, 16, now face charges including home invasion robbery, carjacking, kidnapping and sexual battery. Police say a fifth suspect, 17-year-old Damien Licquia, remains at large.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. Saturday, deputies were called to a mobile home located in Suncoast Estates.

The male victim explained he was sleeping on the couch when four male suspects entered the residence, threw him to the floor and began punching and kicking him in the face.

One of the subjects removed the victim’s credit cards and money from his wallet. The female victim says she was sleeping on the bed when she woke up to loud noises. Police say the suspects entered her bedroom and began to kick and punch her.

According to authorities, there is also evidence the female victim was sexually battered during the incident. She stated that one suspect had a knife and another had a firearm. The suspect with the firearm discharged it into the residence. Both victims were transported to the hospital for treatment.

The suspects next hit a home on the 8300 block of Tolles Drive. The victim says he was sleeping on his couch when he was struck on the head with an object. He awoke to find four males and a female standing above him.

“Beat me up, threaten to kill me, threaten to kill my dog,” said Herbert Cade.

The subjects moved the victim to a chair in the kitchen where they duct taped his hands. Eventually one of the subjects picked up a fire extinguisher and discharged it in the house. At this point, the victim was able to escape the house.

As deputies were responding to the second home invasion, they located and detained three male suspects who were fleeing from the scene. The victim was able to positively identify Bowling, Williams and Girard as the three that battered and tied him up. From the scene of the second home invasion, deputies located items taken from both crime scenes.

As the investigation continued, detectives received information that three males and a female had attempted to use a stolen debit card at a Circle K on Laurel Lane. Upon viewing the surveillance video, detectives were able to identify Mitchell and Licquia as suspects.

On Sunday morning, deputies were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle near the 1700 block of Case Lane. When deputies arrived on scene, they observed two people running from the vehicle. The female was apprehended and identified as Mitchell. Police say Licquia fled into the surrounding wooded area.

As deputies approached the vehicle they discovered the registered owner of the vehicle tied up inside. The victim explained that she had given the two suspects a ride and that during the ride Licquia had brandished a knife and put it to her throat, demanding that she pull over. The victim pulled over and was tied up by Licquia and Mitchell. The victim was driven around North Fort Myers for the entire night as the suspects attempted to use the victim’s debit card.

Deputies say they hope to charge all the suspects as adults.

 

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