SEBASTIAN, Fla. (WFLA) – A Florida man ran from law enforcement and barricaded himself in a Sebastian residence before falling through the ceiling on Nov. 3, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they received an alert from a license plate reader that a Ford F-350 was headed westbound and had been stolen. The vehicle was reported stolen on October 19th out of Osceola County.
After investigative efforts, the IRCSO Real-Time Crime Center announced that the driver was identified as Keith Rogers, 37.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that Rogers purchased the wood at Sebastian Home Center and was still using the stolen vehicle.
Police found the truck parked in the driveway, and the suspect unloaded wood from the truck’s bed before fleeing into a residence as police searched him.
IRCSO said Rogers barricaded himself in the home and refused to respond to verbal commands.
“Due to his extensive criminal history and previous statements that he would initiate a shootout before returning to prison, SWAT and crisis negotiators were dispatched,” IRCSO said.
After a standoff that lasted several hours, Rogers fell through the ceiling and “into the arms” of SWAT officers, IRCSO said.
Rogers was charged with grand theft auto and resisting office without violence, according to body camera footage of the incident.
