A Seminole County couple is behind bars following several car break-ins, a Houdini-like escape and a standoff.
The incident started Saturday morning in the Lake of the Woods subdivision in Fern Park when Joanne Terry contacted law enforcement about a suspicious couple.
"I asked, 'What are you doing?' And they said, 'We are looking to buy a house.' And I looked at them and I said, 'Hmm,'" said Terry.
Terry, who said she's a dog walker and part of the neighborhood watch, knew something wasn't right when she spotted the couple roaming her neighborhood with backpacks.
Deputies said they found the Melissa Schneider, 27, and Johnathan Kokontis, 25, hiding in a shed. The two were placed in a deputy's cruiser.
According to deputies, Schneider helped Kokontis, whose hands were cuffed behind his back, get his cuffed hands in front of his body. They said she then used one of her earrings to try and unlock Kokontis' cuffs.
Investigators said when a deputy took the two out of the cruiser, Kokontis struck the deputy and ran.
According to investigators, Kokontis then broke into a house and forced the owner to hand over the keys to his car, but the car wouldn't start, so Kokontis ran to a home belonging to Gary Nieves.
"I'm glad my grandma wasn't home because usually she's always home," Nieves said.
Investigators said Kokontis threatened deputies with a pickax, so they sent in a dog, which took him down.
"It's scary, you know, but I'm glad they caught him," said Nieves.
According to the arrest report, "Melissa Schneider was arrested after investigators reviewed in-car camera footage and learned of her role in attempting to aid Kokontis in his escape from custody."
"It teaches us to look and always be kind of half way suspicious of people,"said Terry.
Schneider was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and aiding a felon. She is being held on a $29,000 bond.
Jonathan Kokontis was charged with escape from custody, robbery/home invasion, armed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, burglary of an occupied dwelling, resisting an officer without violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, attempted grand theft of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, criminal mischief, petit theft and violation of probation. He is being held on a $56,000 bond.
Investigators said that they discovered that Kokontis and Schneider allegedly battered a pregnant woman the evening before the car burglaries were reported. Both were charged with aggravated battery in that event.
WFTV
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