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Testimony recounting a Jan. 26 home invasion was given last Thursday in Buena Vista General District Court during a preliminary hearing for two of three men charged in connection with the incident.
The daytime breaking and entering of a residence in the Enderly Heights subdivision led to lockdowns at area schools and prompted an hours-long manhunt for one of the alleged intruders after the other two suspects were captured quickly by police.
Jacob Taylor testified that three men broke into his house in the 300 block of Sycamore Avenue on the morning of Jan. 26. The intrusion began when he heard a “loud bang” in the back of his house. He called 911 immediately and was then confronted by three men wearing ski masks.
“They told me this was a robbery and not to move,” recalled Taylor. “I began to fight.” The commotion caused his dog to start barking at the men. One of the men told Taylor to call the dog off or he’d shoot it. The man didn’t display a gun but indicated that he had one, Taylor testified.
A scuffle ensued that left Taylor with scratches and bruises on his face. Asked how long the intrusion lasted, Taylor said, “The police told me a couple of minutes. It felt like forever.”
Taylor said the intruders took a collection of sneakers he had on display in his living room, $700 in cash from a nightstand, a phone and clothing. Most of the items were recovered, he said. Taylor identified the two men in the courtroom whose preliminary hearing was being held as two of the intruders.
The preliminary hearing was being held for Dakota Camden, 18, of Roanoke, and Tytray Martin, 44, of Buena Vista. Multiple charges were filed against both men in connection with the incident. A third man similarly charged with multiple counts, Gregory Kersey, 45, of Buena Vista, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 6.
Taylor testified that the intruders left by the back door of the house – the same one that they’d entered through. Taylor said he knew Camden but not the other two men.
Martin’s attorney, James Bullard Jr., asked Taylor about his drug use. In response to Bullard’s questions, Taylor said he’d been “clean since Nov. 14,” that he doesn’t do drugs now and he wasn’t under the influence of drugs on the day of the home invasion.
Four of the investigating police officers who responded to the scene testified. Buena Vista Police Officer Matt Thompson said he saw two men in the backyard, one of whom may have had a gun, because he saw what looked like a gun’s silver handle. Believing that a firearm was involved, he said he made sure Taylor was secure before pursuing the men on foot.
Still photos from video of the pursuit taken from a security camera in a neighboring house were introduced into evidence. Two of the men were quickly captured – one was found just outside a utility shed at a neighbor’s house – while the third remained at large for several hours before being taken into custody.
Detective Cameron Wheeler testified that he participated in the search for the third suspect. He said two bags that contained some of the stolen items were found against a fence in the backyard of a residence in the 300 block of Cypress Avenue.
Detective Colon Hamilton said he obtained search warrants for a 2022 silver Ford Mustang believed to be driven by the suspects that was found near the scene of the home invasion. A key fob to the car, which had been rented from Enterprise, was found on one of the suspects. A loaded 9 mm gun was found in the car, as was an air soft BB gun.
Cpl. Alan Buzzard testified to finding one of the suspects lying down in front of a utility building. Buzzard said he had him at gun point, patted him down and took him into custody. A key fob to the car that was searched was recovered from this individual.
After hearing the testimony of the commonwealth’s witnesses, Lethia Hammond, Camden’s attorney, and Bullard asked that the charges be dismissed, asserting that there was insufficient evidence to connect their clients to the home invasion. Bullard questioned how Taylor could identify his client as one of the men who broke into his home if all three men were wearing ski masks.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Joshua Elrod countered that “there’s an excess of evidence to connect these individuals to the robbery. It’s well above probable cause,” the standard needed at this stage of the court proceedings. “There’s no other sensible way to interpret” the evidence and testimony presented, argued the prosecutor. “Three individuals threatened [Taylor] and stole from him. They were wearing ski masks.”
Elrod noted that there is video of three individuals running through the back yard, two of whom were wearing jackets with identifiable logos. One of the individuals arrested had a key fob to the vehicle that was searched and two weapons found.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Robin Mayer certified to a grand jury charges of armed burglary, conspiracy to commit armed burglary and assault and battery against Martin and Camden. Charges of obstruction of justice were dismissed and a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon against Martin was not certified.
This year,
The News-Gazette
will be publishing a page to remember our area Veterans on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 for Memorial Day.
If you would like to list an area veteran, please include their name, rank, and branch of service.
Email your request to: [email protected] (If you do not receive an email confirmation, please call April Mikels at 463-3113.)
Requests will be accepted up until Friday, May 19th at noon.
