January 31, 2008
Gary Davidson, Public Information Officer
Sergeant Kenny Hayes, PIO, Ormond Beach Police Department                      

INVESTIGATORS LOOK FOR LINKS IN TWO HOME INVASIONS 

Three masked men barged into a home on John Anderson Drive in Ormond-by-the-Sea early Thursday morning, tied up and battered a 69-year-old man and stole money from the victim’s house and tugboat docked across the street in the Halifax River. Volusia County Sheriff’s investigators are working with Ormond Beach Police, looking into possible connections to a home invasion in the city that also took place Thursday morning. 

The incident on John Anderson Drive was reported to the Sheriff’s Office at 5:42 a.m., after a bleeding and still-bound Gordon McCarthy had fled his home and ran to an acquaintance to summon help. The victim told deputies that he awoke to three masked Black men, one armed with a handgun, inside his home demanding money. They bound his arms, then forced him across the street to his tugboat. Several shots were fired during the encounter, but they weren’t directed at the victim and no one was struck by the bullets. While the intruders were grabbing valuables on the boat, McCarthy tried to break free, but has captors nabbed the victim and began to beat, kick and choke him. The suspects then forced the victim across the street and back into his house, where one suspect held McCarthy at gunpoint while the other two ransacked the house and took money from the victim’s wallet. The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the area in a blue sport-utility vehicle. The victim sustained a gash on his head and several bruises, but declined medical treatment. 

The attack on John Anderson Drive is not believed to be random. Meanwhile, three hours earlier and about 9 miles away, Ormond Beach Police responded to a report of a home invasion at a residence on China Moon Drive, also involving three masked Black men. Sheriff’s investigators and Ormond Beach Police detectives were following leads Thursday morning and looking into the possibility that the two crimes were connected. Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office, Ormond Beach Police Department or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.

http://www.volusia.org/sheriff/press/080024.htm
http://www.volusia.org/sheriff/press/080025.htm
http://www.volusia.org/sheriff/press/080026.htm