Backpacking Biker Burglar Busted

(September 26, 2017) - A burglar who tried to get away on his motorcycle was caught by a quick call from the victim and a perimeter set up by police.

On September 22, 2017 at approximately 10:20 p.m. officers responded to the 2100 block of NE 14th Place in reference to a burglary in progress. The victim stated he had heard a loud noise in his backyard, and walked out front and around the house to check it due to the rear of the house still being boarded up for Hurricane Irma. He saw a shirtless white man in his 20's wearing slide on shoes attempting to remove a plywood shutter. The man ran when confronted, fleeing west over a fence. 

A perimeter was set up around the area, and K-9 Oz tracked the suspect to the west. At the same time, a man fitting the description of the suspect (but now wearing a jacket and a backpack) attempted to drive out of the area on a motorcycle from the west of the location, which was surrounded by canals. When officers tried to stop him he drove around the patrol car and tried to leave the area. Officers conducted a traffic stop and identified the man as Kalib Banasiak (DOB: 10-1-97). The victim positively identified Banasiak as the man who had attempted to break into his home. A post-arrest search of Banasiak revealed marijuana and unprescribed alprazolam pill in his backpack as well. Banasiak was charged with burglary, possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and transported to the Lee County Jail.