GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The man responsible for the burglary of 20 businesses in office complex buildings that were broken into June 9 has been identified and arrested following the investigation conducted by the Gainesville Police Department's Special Operations Unit.
Dwayne Bruce Officer, 43, of Panama City Beach, was arrested by Bay County sheriff's deputies Wednesday.
Most of the burglaries took place in the areas of 4800 NW 8th Ave., 5000 W. Newberry Road, the 500 block of NW 60th Street and 4700 NW 53rd Ave.
According to police, some of the businesses targeted were:
- Bosshardt Realty at 5532 NW 43rd St.: Side door, drawers and cabinets pried open.
- Physician's Office at 4611 NW 53rd Ave.: Attempt to pry front door, no entry made.
- Real Estate Attorney at 4703 NW 53rd Ave. Suite A1: Front door pried open.
- Election Survey Office at 4703 NW 53rd Ave. Suite A4: Front door pried open, but nothing reported missing.
- Therapist Office at 4703 NW 53rd Ave. Suite B2: Front door pried open.
- Dr. Kim Davidson at 4707 NW 53rd Ave. Suite B: Side door pried open, then pried front door in foyer.
- Carrillo & Carrillo Law Firm at 4707 NW 53rd Ave. Suite A: Side door pried open, offices rummaged through and safe pried open, but nothing reported missing.
- Chiropractor's Office at 4101 NW 37th Pl. Suite B: Window pried open.
- Realtor's Office at 2622 NW 43rd St. Suite A: Front door pried open, offices rummaged through, but nothing reported missing.
- Arroyo & Talbert Law Office at 4510 NW 6th Pl. First floor: Attempt to pry side window, no entry made.
- Nail Salon, Hair Salon and Financial Broker at 5200 Newberry Road Suite E1, E5 & E8: Rear window A/C vent pushed out. Offices rummaged through, but nothing reported missing.
- Tanning Salon at 618 NW 60th St. Suite I: Front door pried open.
- Martial Arts Academy at 500 NW 60th St. Suite B: Front door pried open.
- Bouncing Big at 490 NW 60th St. Suite 4: Front door pried open.
- Salon and Dermatology Center at 4965 NW 8th Ave. Suite D and E: Front door pried open, offices rummaged through, no loss reported.
- Hair Salon at 6110 NW 1st Pl.: Front door pried open, no loss reported.
An undisclosed amount of cash was taken from some of the targets. There was no indication that patient or client information was targeted, nor any other objects or information, police said.
The investigation revealed that Officer is linked to similar burglary sprees in Tallahassee, Pensacola, Panama City Beach, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Jacksonville, Clearwater, St. Johns County and Pasco County.
Police had believed the burglaries were all the work of one man and that it appeared he might have been traveling from one break-in to the next by bicycle. The GPD investigation showed that this was the case and consistent with the burglary sprees over all jurisdictions.
Officer was spotted the night following the burglary spree riding a bicycle on NW 13th Street. Police thought Officer seemed out of place and took down his information. This information was later used to help identify Officer.
Bouncing Big had surveillance video, which shows the burglar wearing a baseball cap, a face covering, a dark T-shirt with "100%" across the front, light-colored shorts, dark socks, light-colored shoes and also a backpack.
Police were hoping the distinct design on the man's T-shirt would help identify him and it later proved to be fruitful.
Officer had returned to Panama City Beach by the time he was identified so GPD worked with the Bay County Sheriff's Office to monitor Officer while necessary evidence was gathered.
The Special Operations Unit traveled to Panama City and met with Bay County sheriff's officials to arrest Officer. A search of Officer's home found a shirt and backpack matching surveillance video, along with four stolen firearms.
At this point in the investigation, GPD will be filing 20 charges of burglary to a business against Officer. Other law enforcement agencies will likely begin filing their charges soon.
Officer is in custody of the Bay County Sheriff's Office.