A Florida man was arrested after police say he went on a late-night rampage through a Pinellas Park neighborhood while completely naked.
According to Fox 13, the Pinellas Park Police Department identified the suspect as 34-year-old Joshua Neal Garrison. He was taken into custody on October 14 and charged with armed residential burglary, two counts of residential burglary, criminal mischief, and probation violations connected to earlier grand theft auto and fleeing and eluding cases.
Officers said the investigation began a week earlier, on October 7, when residents called about a nude man trying to force his way into homes near 97th Circle North. Neighbors reported property damage and disturbing encounters before police were able to track Garrison down.
One of those neighbors, David Dale, said the suspect rang his doorbell in the middle of the night. “I was asleep, and the doorbell rang, and I answered the door,” Dale told WFLA. “Opened the door and there was a guy standing there, and he was stark naked.” Dale added that his truck window was smashed and lights were ripped from the front of his house.
Surveillance footage from other homes showed the man moving through yards and attempting to pry open windows. Neighbor Tim Reischmann described seeing him escalate further. “He went into my shed, grabbed an ax and came back on my porch,” Reischmann said. “We don’t know why he didn’t use it.” He added that before the break-in attempt, the man had been exposing himself and acting erratically in his backyard.
Residents said the Florida man also jumped fences, damaged outdoor fixtures, and even helped himself to drinks left outside. “He got lucky we didn’t wake up,” one neighbor said, adding that several people in the area were prepared to defend their homes.
Police have not confirmed how many homes were hit, but the department said the case remains active. Garrison is being held on multiple charges as investigators continue gathering evidence.