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Updated April 26, 2025
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — Power was slow to return after Hurricane Isaias, and Escambia County deputies say they took advantage of the storm’s chaos to catch suspected criminals. Two separate incidents stand out: an attempted break-in at a Gulf Beach Highway store and a stolen car taken during a fake phone-charging request. Both cases resulted in arrests and multiple charges, and the sheriff’s office is using them as a warning to anyone thinking about exploiting storm-damaged communities.
The outages left neighborhoods dark and empty businesses vulnerable. Deputies increased patrols as part of the county’s recovery effort, and officials say those patrols are already paying off. The sheriff’s office described the two arrests as examples of the kind of opportunistic behavior that can spike when a storm knocks out security cameras, alarm systems, and normal street traffic.
In the first case, deputies say a man used the outage as cover to try to break into a 24-hour store along Gulf Beach Highway. According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect shattered the front window in an attempt to get inside and steal merchandise. Officers on routine patrol saw the man near the damaged storefront. He tried to run, but deputies caught him a short distance away.
The suspect now faces a long list of charges, including attempted burglary of an unoccupied structure during a state of emergency, possession of burglary tools, wearing a mask while committing a second-degree felony, loitering and prowling, criminal mischief involving damage of $200 or more, and obstruction without violence. Authorities did not release his name, saying the investigation is still open and more information may be shared later.
The mask charge is significant. Florida law treats disguising one’s identity during a felony as a separate offense because masks make it harder to identify repeat offenders. In a storm-related case, that detail can also add enhanced penalties, especially when emergency orders are already in place.
The second incident unfolded along a residential street where a woman was preparing for the storm’s aftermath. According to the sheriff’s office, a man and woman approached her, said they were in the area for work, and claimed their phone was dead because the power outage had left them without a way to charge it. The woman agreed to let them use the charger inside her vehicle. At some point, she stepped away, and the pair allegedly got in and drove off.
A deputy named Beatty was nearby and immediately gave chase. The pursuit ended when the stolen vehicle crashed. No serious injuries were reported, which the sheriff’s office called a fortunate outcome given how quickly the situation escalated.
The two people arrested in that case have been identified as Dustin Lee Kelly, 30, and Amanda Marie Carr, 29. Kelly faces a vehicle theft charge. Carr was also taken into custody, though the sheriff’s office did not specify her exact charges in the video update. Officials have not said whether the two incidents are connected, but both happened while emergency conditions were in effect.
These arrests reflect a broader reality after major hurricanes: property crimes often tick upward when normal safeguards are out of order. Storefronts can sit dark for days, security systems go offline, and residents are distracted by cleanup, making homes and vehicles easier targets. Law enforcement agencies across Florida typically warn residents about scammers posing as utility workers and thieves using sob stories to get close to vehicles.
For local residents, the sheriff’s office has issued practical reminders. Do not let strangers borrow your phone charger inside your car, especially if you do not know who they are. Keep vehicle doors locked, even while you are at home. If someone approaches with a claim about needing emergency help, offer to call for assistance rather than inviting them into your vehicle. Avoid leaving keys in a car while loading supplies or checking storm damage.
Authorities also urge business owners to document any damage from looting or break-ins, including photographs and serial numbers of stolen merchandise. That evidence can help deputies connect an arrest to a broader pattern of theft in the area.
The sheriff’s office says patrols will remain heavy in heavily damaged sections of Escambia County as recovery work continues. The message is clear: the storm may have knocked out power, but it did not knock out law enforcement’s presence. Deputies are keeping a close eye on areas where outages and empty buildings create the kind of conditions that attract criminals.
Florida’s emergency declaration for Hurricane Isaias means certain offenses carry stiffer penalties than they would under normal conditions. That includes burglary and attempted burglary during a declared state of emergency. Officials want anyone considering similar crimes to know that an arrest can lead to felony charges with long-term consequences beyond the immediate loss of a vehicle or merchandise.
As of this update, the two arrested in the stolen car case are being processed at the Escambia County Jail. The store break-in suspect remains unidentified pending further investigation. Escambia County sheriff’s deputies continue to ask anyone who saw suspicious activity during or after the storm to contact the office with tips.
The aftermath of a hurricane can bring out the best in communities, with neighbors helping each other and emergency crews working around the clock. But it can also bring out people looking to exploit that generosity. The recent arrests in Escambia County serve as a reminder that recovery efforts are being watched, and that storm-affected neighborhoods are not far from the reach of the law.
