for immediate release
November 20, 2003

N E W S   R E L E A S E

Two suspects are in custody after a Home-Invasion Robbery this morning (Thursday morning) in Crestview. Wendell Shane Lewis (pictured left), age 34 (5-6-1969) and Eric Scott Myers (pictured right), age 41 (5-19-1962), were taken into custody in Santa Rosa County at 8:50 this morning, following a high-speed pursuit of approximately 20 minutes.

The two were in a car reported stolen less than one hour earlier in a Home-Invasion Robbery at a residence on Opportunity Lane, east of Crestview. The victim told Deputies two men forced his way inside her residence when she answered a knock on the door a few minutes before 8 o'clock this morning. One of the intruders detained the victim while the other rummaged through the house. The victim's 24 year old son emerged from a bedroom armed with a knife, but was warded off when one of the intruders grabbed an axe from inside the residence.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office relayed descriptions of the suspects and the stolen vehicle to nearby agencies. Minutes later, Santa Rosa Deputies were in pursuit of the car, westbound approaching Milton on Interstate-10.

Lewis and Myers are in the Santa Rosa County Jail in Milton, held in connection with charges fro the pursuit. Okaloosa County charges of Home Invasion Robbery, Auto Theft, and False Imprisonment are pending in connection with this morning's incident. In addition, Lewis and Myers are under investigation for at least four other vehicle thefts in the Crestview area in the past two weeks.

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for more information contact Rick Hord, Public Information Officer

(850) 651-7420

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