ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Florida man who stole a victim’s samurai sword, laptop and other belongings then drove off in the man’s truck was arrested after leaving his cellphone at the crime scene, investigators said.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said a homeowner awoke at 7:45 a.m. April 20, went into his living room to start working from home and saw Daemeion Grady standing in the kitchen, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Investigators said Grady, 24, was holding “the victim’s replica Samurai sword in one hand and the victim’s vehicle keys in the other hand.”
Grady told the homeowner to pick up a clothes hamper filled with items stolen from his home. Grady then told the victim to load it into his truck. The man did as instructed. Grady left and the victim then called authorities.
Investigators found a cellphone at the victim’s house. They got a search warrant for it and determined it was Grady’s after they found several photos and videos of him on the phone. Investigators later found the sword, which had Grady’s fingerprints on it.
Grady was arrested Tuesday and charged with armed burglary, carjacking and resisting arrest. He is in jail awaiting trial.