Watch Live

Watch Live
Weekend newscasts online

°

Homepage / Jacksonville News
Text Size

Deputies Recover Baseball Cards, Arrest Man

POSTED: Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Less than 24 hours after a burglary of baseball cards valued at more than $100,000 from an Orange Park business, a man is arrested and charged with the crime.

Before dawn Monday, a cinder block was thrown through the window of Dan's Sports Cards on Blanding Boulevard and about 1,100 cards were taken, including a 1958 Mickey Mantle card that was worth $30,000.

An Orange Park police officer remembered being suspicious after stopping David Gonzalez on a traffic stop in the area of the burglary. Authorities said Gonzalez was wearing baseball gloves and dressed in all black.

After sharing that information with a detective, they paid a visit to the apartment complex in Jacksonville Beach where Gonzalez lives.

Investigators said they found broken display cases taken from the sports store in the Dumpster. Inside his apartment, they found the baseball cards and a small amount of marijuana, they said.

"This is one of those things where it's a good officer putting two and two together," said Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler.

After being shown a photo of Gonzalez, the owner of Dan's Sports Cards, Dan Williams, said he knew who he was. He said Gonzalez was in the store on Saturday admiring the cards that were stolen just days later.

"We knew whoever it was had been in and looked at them. It had to be somebody who'd seen them. This wasn't just a random theft," Williams said.

Gonzalez, 27, was arrested Monday night on a marijuana possession charge. He was later transported to Clay County to face burglary charges and a $50,000 bond.

Text Size

Sponsored Links

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Are you often tired or rushed in the morning? Give your morning habits a makeover, and start the day feeling positive and energetic instead. More

If you're looking to save on your next new vehicle, a low sticker price is just one aspect. Consider all the costs and make the right decision. More

Most Popular

  • StoriesClick to Expand

    • 11-Year-Old Girl Helps Deliver Baby

      Gainesville baby with mom and sisterAn 11-year-old Gainesville girl called 911 and helped her mom deliver her newborn baby sister when the big moment came before they could get to the hospital.

    • St. Augustine Woman Hit By Car Dies

      Florida Highway Patrol investigators said a pedestrian was killed Friday evening after being hit by several cars along a St. Johns County roadway.

    • Service Set For Children Killed By Dad

      Katie and Kevin WhitelawA family still coming to grips with the death of two children at the hands of their father -- who then took his own life -- announced plans for a Sunday memorial service.

    • Ida Spurs Storm Warnings In Caribbean

      T.S. Ida - Saturday 4 p.m.Tropical-storm warnings are issued for the Mexican coastline and a tentative forecast track predicted Tropical Storm Ida da could brush the U.S. Gulf Coast next week.

    • Senior Scores Perfect 2400 On SAT

      David AnthonyA Camden County High School senior scored a perfect 2400 on his SAT, amazing his teachers, parents and even himself.

  • VideoClick to Expand

  • SlideshowsClick to Expand

    • Your Photos Of Sea & Air Spectacular

      Air show pix: Blue Angels jet with flagSEE IT, SNAP IT, SEND IT: Thousands of eyes and nearly as many cameras are pointed toward the sky over Jacksonville's beaches this weekend for the Sea & Air Spectacular.

    • Images: Flames Engulf, Destroy Mobile Home

      Nassau County House FireAn 800 square foot mobile home in Nassau County was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. Both residents in the home escaped safely.

    • Quinn Gray Evidence Photos

      Quinn Gray shows injuries she says were a result of her kidnappingQuinn Gray showed investigators marks on her arms and legs she said were the result of her kidnapping. Slideshow

    • Have You Seen These Fugitives?

      WOJ-ANDRE-FULTZCapturing N.E. Florida's wanted suspects is a tough task, so the local station is trying to help with the Wheel of Justice. Every Thursday morning, the wheel spins and a wanted fugitive is profiled. Images: Fugitives On 'Wheel'

    • Blue Angels Thrill Crowd At NAS Jacksonville Air Show

      Air show imageAn extimated 200,000 people came to NAS Jacksonville Sunday to see the annual air show. Images From Air Show