Bird's Eye View Helps Nab Burglary Suspects

A bird's eye view gave Hillsborough County deputies the vantage point they needed to track down two men suspected of fleeing into Wesley Chapel after attempting to break into a Lutz home.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a call for a burglary in progress at 17610 Willow Pond Drive at 9:15 a.m. on Jan. 7. The caller indicated that two men had kicked in the door of the home but when they saw the homeowner, both fled in a red Mustang.

Deputies came in contact with the men at the on-ramp of I-275 North at Bearss Avenue and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The suspects refused to stop and continued onto I-275 North into Pasco County, according to reports.

With the assistance of HCSO Aviation, deputies located the vehicle near the Ashley Furniture Home Store, 26222 Golden Maple Road in Wesley Chapel. The men were observed from the air running onto I-75 North to hide under the SR-56 overpass, according to the sheriff's office.

Hillsborough and Pasco deputies responded to the location and arrested Zaki Grier, 22, and Jamar Sampson, 19. 

Both were found with jewelry on them, the report stated. Other items also were found in an initiail search of the vehicle. The items are not from the Monday morning burglary at 17610 Willow Pond Drive, but detectives are looking into other homes in the area that may have been targeted, according to the sheriff's office. Charges are pending.