Man arrested for vehicle burglary

A 21-year-old Homestead, Florida man was arrested Thursday morning for a 2017 vehicle burglary in which nearly $3,000 in cash was stolen.

Eric St. Clair Howard was charged with burglary, larceny and operating a vehicle with no valid license.

The Sheriff’s Office was called to the 200 block of E. Carroll Street in Islamorada in November 2017 regarding a vehicle burglary in which someone smashed a window of a locked Kia and stole $2,700 in cash inside. Blood samples were collected at the scene. A witness reported seeing a young male looking into the vehicle, but the witness did not think anything suspicious.

Detectives received notification in March 2018 from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that DNA taken from the blood samples came from Howard. Warrants were issued for Howard’s arrest shortly thereafter.

Deputy Joel Torres performed a traffic stop at approximately 6 a.m. on U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 102 and identified Howard as the driver.

Howard was taken to jail.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]