Vacationers charged with burglary, stealing golf cart
Two men on vacation are accused of stealing a golf cart from a closed Captiva business after hours, driving it to Sanibel and then returning the cart to the business the same night with damage to it.
Jack Bingham Fischer, 18, of 12808 Ridgemoor Drive, Prospect, Kentucky, and Grant Christopher Neal, 18, of 2808 Woodside Plate #Lot 489, Prospect, Kentucky, were both arrested and charged on April 1 with one count each of larceny grand theft $10,000 less than $20,000 and burglary dwelling structure cause damage $1,000 more, according to reports from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
They were both released from the Lee County Jail on April 2 on $25,000 bond.
On April 1, the LCSO responded to YOLO Watersports, at 11534 Andy Rosse Lane. Owner Elizabeth Ventura reported that one of her golf carts stored in the rear of the business had been stolen, damaged and returned the previous night without permission. Valued at $14,000, it had about $4,000 in damage.
According to reports, surveillance cameras captured two young men enter the property on bicycles on March 31 at about 9:30 p.m. They proceeded to the enclosed backyard and tried to open the locked business doors. The men then went to the golf carts, removed the cover from one, started it and drove away. About two hours later, the two returned and parked the cart in the same spot and recovered it.
While the LCSO was canvassing the area for further evidence, it learned that the Sanibel Police Department had made contact with two men driving a golf cart on the night of March 31.
According to reports, a SPD detective noticed a golf cart driving in the Rebel parking lot as he was headed to a call on March 31, but the call was called off as he was passing The Sanibel School. While parked at the school finishing a report, he observed what appeared to be the same cart now traveling westbound on Sanibel-Captiva Road along the multi-use path at about 10:30 p.m. and he made contact.
The detective identified the operators as Fischer and Neal from their IDs. They reported that they had been at the Rebel gas station but it was closed, so they were returning to South Seas on Captiva. Asked about damage to the front passenger side roof of the cart, they advised it was like that when they got it.
He educated Fischer and Neal on driving golf carts along the roadway on Sanibel. To ensure that they arrived to Captiva safely, the detective then followed them to Blind Pass, where they continued on.
On April 1, the LCSO showed the SPD detective photos of the suspects and the stolen damaged cart. He confirmed that they were Fischer and Neal and the damage to the cart was the same as he observed.
The LCSO also made contact with Christopher Neal, who confirmed that he had a son named Grant Neal who was on vacation with him. He and John Fischer, the father of Fischer, agreed to meet.
When placed into custody, both Fischer and Neal refused to answer any questions.
Both have a court date set for May 6 at 8:30 a.m. before Lee Circuit Judge Margaret Steinbeck.