A Summerfield man who lives less than two miles from a popular Italian restaurant is behind bars in connection with a recent burglary at the eatery.
James Frederick Avery, 47, was arrested Monday and charged in the Feb. 25 incident at Little Joey’s Italian Restaurant, located at 16840 S. U.S. Hwy. 27/441. The restaurant’s employees discovered that the freezer had been broken into and the owner reported $615 worth of food items missing.
A surveillance video showed what appeared to be a white male wearing all black clothing, gloves, a book bag and something covering his face. The man also was riding a white bicycle, a sheriff’s office report states.
Deputies watched the man, who they believe is 47-year-old James Frederick Avery, cut the lock to the freezer door and go in and out several times before leaving on the white bicycle, the report says.
Deputies noted that the man had a “distinct” walk indicating he may have had a past injury to his feet or legs. They also took note of his black RBX shoes and the female-model bicycle that appeared to have been painted all white with no grips on the handles, the report says.
On Monday, a deputy responded to Avery’s residence at 10782 SE 166th Ln. The home’s gate was locked but while speaking with a neighbor the deputy spotted Avery riding a bicycle toward the residence. When Avery saw the deputy, he rode in a different direction as if he was going to another residence, the report says.
The deputy stopped Avery and noted that he was wearing the same shoes, was the same height and build and walked the same as the man shown in the surveillance video, the report says.
When questioned, Avery denied any involvement in the burglary and said he wanted to see the surveillance footage. He then started backing away and struggled with the deputy when he attempted to arrest him – a situation that was resolved when a second deputy arrived as backup, the report says.
A search of Avery’s backpack revealed a bag full of frozen lobster tail, frozen breaded shrimp and vacuum-sealed veal. The deputy photographed the items and sent them to the owner of Little Joey’s, who positively identified them as some of the items that were taken last week.
After being read his rights, Avery denied possession of the backpack but later admitted that it was his and then claimed to have found the food “spread out on a dirt road” leading up to his residence. The deputy told Avery that most of the food was still frozen and it wouldn’t have stayed that way if it was left out in the warmer temperatures, the report says.
Avery continued to deny any involvement in the burglary and when asked about injuries or disabilities that may affect the way he walks, he said, “We all walk upright. I don’t know what you mean,” the report says.
Avery was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with unarmed burglary of an unoccupied structure, larceny/grand theft, possession of burglary tools with the intent to use and resisting an officer without violence. He was being held on $17,000 bond and no court date has been set, jail records show.
Avery also was in the Marion County Jail on July 6, 2018 on a charge of driving with a suspended license (third or subsequent offense). But the prosecutor elected to not move forward with that case, court records show.