The chase was on for burglar in Sea Grove

St Augustine Beach Police and sheriff’s deputies combed Sea Grove subdivision in the early morning hours after receiving a 3:00 a.m. call to report a vehicle burglary in the area, according to information received by Historic City News today.

The victim called law enforcement to his residence in the 2400 block of A1A South after discovering both of his vehicle doors were opened and the interior appeared to be ransacked.

While police officer Natalie Gillespie canvassed the area, she noticed a light inside a vehicle parked in the 900 block of Saltwater Circle. As she approached to investigate, she discovered 22-year-old Hosston Cole Bishop, who resides at 2846 Usina Road Extention in St Augustine, inside the vehicle. Bishop refused to comply with the officer’s commands and fled the scene on foot.

Bishop’s description was broadcast to responding units.

Soon after, an emergency 9-1-1 call came in from the 1000 block of Saltwater Circle where a woman reported that she was awakened to an unknown man standing in the doorway of her bedroom. The victim began to scream and the man identified as Bishop fled the residence. She checked outside once officers arrived to find that three of her vehicles had been burglarized.

Then at 4:18 a.m., the clerk at a nearby convenience store called to report a disorderly customer. Before officers could respond to the scene, the customer, believed to be Bishop, left the store; but the clerk was able to direct deputies to the area where he was last seen.

Officers located Bishop, who attempted to flee once more. He was apprehended and arrested, without incident, and transported to the St Johns County Detention Facility where awaits a first hearing on charges including loitering, disorderly intoxication, and violation of probation.

Bishop may also face charges of burglary to an occupied dwelling, burglary to an unoccupied dwelling, burglary to a conveyance as the investigation continues. Police are still receiving reports of vehicle burglaries in the area.

Detectives are working to see if the crimes are related and request that citizens who believe that their vehicles or residences have been burglarized, not to touch anything in the immediate area in order to preserve potential evidence.