Suspect in Home Invasion Robbery Arrested After Cooking Cocaine

When a Pasco County Sheriff's deputy knocked on Jeremiah Barrus’ door Friday to see if anyone was home, the deputy heard a fire alarm and smelled smoke.

Law enforcment officers were at Barrus' door to question him about a case. He saw them when they arrived and fled, an arrest report said.

The deputy and an officer from the New Port Richey Police Department entered the smoke-filled apartment after knocking to see if anyone else was home and found a pot burning on the stove. The microwave and cabinets above it were also starting to burn. The officers removed the fire hazard.

Inside the pot was a rock of cocaine. In plain view in the kitchen and living area were two spoons with cocaine residue, a needle and syringe and a lighter. 

Barrus is a suspect in a Friday morning home invasion robbery elsewhere in the city. The two victims told a New Port Richey Police detective they had their front door pushed open, and two armed suspects pushed their way in.

The victims told the detective the suspects pointed guns at them and demanded property. The suspects fled with a safe, the victims said.

The safe was found in Barrus’ apartment, as well as other items from the victims’ residence.

Information was not readily available about what case the arresting officers were investigating when they went to Barrus’ apartment.

Barrus, 30, of 6025 Tennessee Ave., was arrested and charged with home invasion robbery, two counts of kidnapping, one count of possion of cocaine and three charges of possion. Jhe was booked into the Land O' Lakes Jail.

Tammy Ernst, Barrus' neighbor, was surprised by the arrest.

"(He) was very quiet, polite and respectful," she wrote in an email. "You you were to meet him, you never would think he was involved in anything like that."

”…We thought WOW WE FINALLY GOT A AWESOME NEIGHBOR. Wrong!”