3 arrested in alleged car burglary believed to be connected to shots fired call near Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Three people who allegedly burglarized a vehicle while armed with a rifle Thursday night are also believed to be involved in reports of shots fired.

Residents in the Autumn Woods subdivision near Crestview reported gunfire and the sound of cars racing about 2:30 a.m., according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office news release. There were also multiple reports of vehicle burglaries.

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Deputies found 20-year-old Jailin Martin, 18-year-old Grady Sutton and a 16-year-old directly outside the neighborhood and took them into custody. The 16-year-old allegedly admitted to burglarizing a vehicle on Autumn Woods Drive with Martin and Sutton.

He also told deputies they were armed with a rifle at the time, according to his arrest report.

The victim said he was getting ready for work when he walked outside and noticed that his driver's side door had been opened.

Several items in the vehicle had been moved around and the glove box and center console appeared to have been rummaged through, the report said. The victim also noticed a $1,500 black nylon case with locksmith tools inside was missing.

All three suspects are charged with armed burglary and grand theft. According to the OCSO, the reported vehicle burglaries are believed to be connected to the shots fired.

Deputies found a car in the parking lot of the ballfields with “heavy damage” from multiple bullet holes later Thursday night. The investigation was continuing Friday.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Car burglaries in Crestview neighborhood possibly connected to gunfire