Pinellas News
Suspect arrested in Clearwater car-detailing home invasion
TBO.com
Published: September 17, 2012
Authorities have arrested a man they say targeted an 89-year-old Clearwater woman in August for a home invasion by asking to detail her car.Published: September 17, 2012
Tommy Mitchell, 42, was arrested Saturday in St. Petersburg after an officer made contact with him on another case, St. Petersburg police said.
Clearwater police charged Mitchell with burglary, two counts of home invasion, two counts of battery on a person 65 or older, and tampering with a witness.
Clearwater police said Mitchell, a transient, approached a woman outside her home at the 100 block of Orangeview Avenue on Aug. 1 about detailing her car in the garage for $50.
The victim agreed, police said. Once Mitchell was done, he entered the woman's home uninvited through a locked screen front door, police said.
Police said he asked for several glasses of water, saying he just took his heart medication. Police said that as the victim went to the kitchen, Mitchell began looking around the house.
The woman gave Mitchell $50 and asked him to leave, police said. He then told her that wanted $150, police said, and she went to her bedroom to get more money because she "just wanted him to get out of her house."
Police said he followed her, took additional money, pushed her down and left her home.
Clearwater police detectives at the time said they believe the man was connected to another similar case and that there may be other victims who have not reported a crime.