Burglary suspect tracked by K-9 deputies

Public Information Officer Debra Johnson told local St. Johns County reporters with Historic City News that a 20 year-old Palm Coast man was arrested Monday morning by Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies for burglary after K-9 units tracked him from the crime scene to his Palm Coast home.

Nicholas Achillo Santos who resides at 2 Filbert Lane, is charged with breaking into a home on Fischer Lane around 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Deputies responded to the area of Filbert Lane following a report of two people wearing hooded sweatshirts carrying a flat panel television.

Deputies discovered the Fischer Lane home had been entered and the house was ransacked while the owners were away on vacation.

K-9 Handlers Deputy Joseph Daily and his dog Reno as well as Deputy Jonathan Welker and his dog Blu, were able to track Santos from the victim’s house to Santos’ backyard on Filbert Lane.

The Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Crime Suppression Team responded to the residence to assist with the investigation. The home owner gave permission to search the house but deputies came up empty handed.

Deputies determined that Santos had traveled to a home on Firtree Lane — where the television was discovered under a bed in a spare bedroom.

A second search of Santos’ home resulted in the discovery of a game console, video games and jewelry taken from the Fischer Lane home. The recovered stolen goods were valued at $1,500.

“The excellent team effort of all the units involved resulted in this arrest. We are still looking for a second suspect,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming.

Santos is being held on the following charges:
Burglary $2,500.00
Grand Theft $1,500.00
Tamper With Or Destroy Evidence $1,500.00
Felony Criminal Mischief $500.00

Santos had been arrested October 21st and released on $500.00 bond, charged with Battery Domestic Violence.