Burglary suspect screams when nabbed by K-9 after stealing ATVs and forklift from Ocala business
By: A 45-year-old Ocala man is facing numerous felony charges after he allegedly burglarized a local business and stole several vehicles, including two ATVS.
On Tuesday, shortly before 12:25 a.m., Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Black Label Marine located at 4211 NW Blitchton Road in reference to a commercial burglary that was in progress. According to MCSO, an employee of the business had received an alert from the alarm company advising that an unidentified man was in the process of stealing an ATV from the business.
While the employee was on the phone with 911, the male suspect was also observed forcibly entering a Dodge Ram Pickup truck that was on the property, according to MCSO.
Upon arrival at the business, an MCSO sergeant observed the male suspect – later identified as Kelly Ace Gomas II – still inside the pickup truck. When Gomas spotted the sergeant, he fled from the vehicle on foot, and local law enforcement officers established a perimeter around the business.
An MCSO deputy with a K-9 partner responded to the business to conduct a track, and Gomas was found hiding underneath a pontoon boat on the property. The K-9 partner apprehended Gomas, and he was taken into custody, according to the sheriff’s office.
The arrest report stated that during a pat-down search of Gomas, a screwdriver and a glass smoking pipe with burnt residue were found. The residue field-tested positive for cocaine.
The business informed investigators that one building and two pickup trucks had been burglarized by Gomas. According to the report, the building’s windows had been “smashed out,” causing $5,000 worth of damage.
Once inside the building, Gomas allegedly stole two Honda ATVs ($20,000 value each) and a Toyota forklift ($10,000 value). The report stated that the front passenger window of the Dodge Ram Pickup truck was also smashed, and the front and back door of the truck were damaged by a pry bar that was located near the vehicle.
The sheriff’s office stated that approximately $15,000 worth of damage was caused to the business.
During a post-Miranda interview, Gomas told investigators that he “didn’t remember anything about the incident other than being placed in a vehicle,” according to the report.
A corporal noted in the report that video surveillance footage of the incident showed Gomas approaching a building at the business and utilizing a small prying tool, consistent with the screwdriver found in his possession, to break the window to enter the building.
Gomas was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on $63,000 bond. He is being charged with burglary of a conveyance (two counts), grand theft of a motor vehicle (two counts), and one count each of burglary of a structure, grand theft of more than $10,000 but less than $20,000, possession of burglary tools, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In addition, the Ocala Police Department has also charged Gomas for seven additional, unrelated crimes that were allegedly committed within the city, including burglary, theft, criminal mischief, and fraud.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office stated that there have been several other burglaries at Black Label Marine over the past several months with “large losses,” and an investigation is underway to determine if Gomas was involved in those incidents.