FL Restaurant Manager Arrested For Burglarizing Eatery

BRADENTON, FL — The general manager of Oak & Stone in downtown Bradenton was arrested for burglarizing the restaurant, authorities said.

William “Billy” Johnson, 43, was taken into custody Tuesday evening at his home, Bradenton police said in a news release. He declined to speak with detectives.

On Tuesday morning, an employee of Oak & Stone at 1201 Barcarrota Blvd. found the restaurant’s entrance unlocked when they got there. The safe was open and empty, and the cash register at the bar appeared to have been forced open, police said.

The employee told Johnson about the break-in and he said he’d locked the restaurant at 12:45 a.m.

Surveillance video footage from the restaurant showed a man with his face covered walking into the manager’s office at 5:44 a.m. and unplugging the security cameras.

Detectives then reviewed video from multiple cameras near the restaurant. The suspect was
observed parking a Kia SUV, registered to Johnson, several blocks from Oak & Stone, police said.

He then walked to the restaurant and opened the door with a key. Ten minutes later, the suspect left the business, wiped the door handles, and left the door unlocked. He returned to the Kia,
carrying a deposit bag.

Anyone with information on this case should contact Detective Rachael Tobie at rachael.tobie@bradentonpd.com.

Tips can also be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers at manateecrimestoppers.com or by
calling 866-634-8477 (TIPS).