Home Invasion Incident in Bay County
The Sheriff’s Office in Bay County, Florida, reported on Tuesday that deputies responded to a home invasion robbery in the 8200 block of Random Road, which is about 10 minutes north of Panama City Beach.
Authorities stated that a patrol officer encountered the victim, who claimed that two masked individuals entered his residence while he was asleep and made off with a significant amount of cash.
The victim mentioned that he confronted the intruders inside his home, managing to chase them out as they fled in an SUV.
Following that, the victim got into his car, left Random Road, and pursued the suspects eastbound on Highway 388.
During the chase, the victim reported several collisions with the suspect’s vehicle. Eventually, the suspect SUV swerved and crashed into a ditch.
By the time police arrived, the occupants of the mangled SUV had abandoned it and fled into a nearby wooded area.
Investigators found that the SUV was registered to 22-year-old Sarah Swartz. In addition, a significant amount of cash was discovered inside the vehicle and on the ground near the driver’s door. The cash matched the victim’s description of the money taken during the home invasion.
As police delved deeper into the case, the victim provided further insights about events leading up to the robbery.
Swartz had initially contacted the victim earlier that evening, seeking a visit, having obtained his phone number from a mutual friend. After arriving at the victim’s home, she stayed for around 15 to 30 minutes before leaving.
Witness accounts indicated that the victim may have been seen handing money to his girlfriend while Swartz was present, fueling speculation about the circumstances surrounding the robbery.
After Swartz’s departure, the victim reportedly fell asleep but was woken by his girlfriend yelling about the money being taken. When he woke up, he saw two masked figures in his house—one was described as a tall white male, while the other was a shorter Black male wielding a baseball bat. The victim’s girlfriend also noted the presence of what seemed to be a handgun with one of the suspects.
Police apprehended a suspect hiding in the woods, later identified as 37-year-old James Crowe. Crowe provided information about two others involved, including details preceding and following the robbery.
As the investigation progressed, authorities located Swartz walking nearby the crash site. Soon after, they spotted another suspect, Devarius Stewart, seated in a vehicle in the vicinity. Despite initially refusing to exit the car, Stewart was eventually taken into custody along with Swartz for questioning.
All three individuals—Crowe, Swartz, and Stewart—have been charged with burglary involving a deadly weapon.
As of Friday morning, all subjects remained in custody at the Bay County Jail. Swartz’s bail is set at $75,000, while Stewart’s is $100,000. Crowe is being held without bail due to his status as a convicted felon, with an additional charge of possession of a weapon, carrying a bail amount of $20,000.
