An Atmore man remained in the Escambia County Detention Center on Tuesday, charged with two felony crimes, after a June 5 incident during which he and two other men allegedly forced their way into another man’s home, hit the resident in the head with a handgun, then robbed him.
According to a press release issued last week by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Lambert, 24-year-old Mikeal Starks is charged with one count each of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. An employee of the jail’s booking and release division reported Tuesday that Starks is being held under a $150,000 bond.
Sheriff’s reports show that 911 dispatchers received a call around 2:30 p.m. Monday from a man who said a home invasion, armed robbery and shooting had occurred at 3270 Foshee Road, Brewton. The caller reported that at least two black males came to his house. After the bandits made their way inside, he said, “they pulled a gun and struck him on the head,” then robbed him and left.
As the suspects jumped into a dark blue SUV to make their getaway, the victim “exited the residence with a single-barrel shotgun and fired one round of buckshot in their direction, striking the vehicle.” The driver of the vehicle was reportedly struck in the shoulder and the cheek.
Investigators determined that the suspects had high-tailed it to Brewton, where two of them dumped the SUV that was used in the crime. The other reportedly drove to a residence from which the wounded suspects were then taken to the hospital.
ECSO officers and Brewton police went to the hospital, where they made contact with the victim and the subject who was shot.
Lambert said the case remains under investigation and that further arrests are anticipated. He did not name the suspect or suspects but did say that “warrants for armed robbery are pending.”
Anyone with any information related to the case is urged to contact the sheriff’s office, by phone at (251)809-2145 or through the ECSO website, escambiacountysheriffal.org.