Man, 18, arrested on burglary, grand theft charges, Lake City police say

Police: Additional charges for burglary, theft pending

LAKE CITY, Fla. – An 18-year-old man has been arrested on burglary and grand theft charges, Lake City police said.

Investigators on Thursday identified a suspect vehicle involved in a burglary Tuesday evening at Walmart. Police said members of LCPD's criminal investigation division found the vehicle Friday at Windsong Apartments and made contact with the driver.

After interviewing two people known to have been in the vehicle at the time of the burglary, investigators believe both suspects were involved in multiple other unsolved crimes as well, police said. Further questioning led to a confession from one of the suspects.

Police said investigators believe they have solved at least five separate burglaries being investigated by both the Lake City Police Department and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office based on information obtained during the interviews.

It is believed that multiple other thefts may have been committed by the same individuals based on evidence collected from the vehicle, police said.

The driver of the vehicle, identified by police as Jabari Rivers, 18, was arrested and taken to the Columbia County Jail on charges of burglary and grand theft, with multiple additional charges for burglary and theft pending, police said.

"This is a perfect example of solid investigative work," Lake City police Chief Argatha Gilmore said. "Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our investigators, we were able to solve numerous property crimes committed by the same suspects."

Police said charges are also pending review from the State Attorney's Office for the passenger of the vehicle.

Rivers is currently being held at the jail without bond due to the numerous pending charges expected to be filed over the weekend by the Police Department and Sheriff's Office, police said.


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Troy Blevins is a Digital Content Editor who has been with Graham Media Group since 2012.