Cape Coral police arrest 3 teens on prowling charges

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Three 18-year-olds were arrested early Tuesday morning after police responded to a reported burglary in progress at a home in Cape Coral.

Officers with the Cape Coral Police Department were dispatched around 2:06 a.m. on March 17, to a home on Northwest 18th Terrace after a resident reported seeing three unknown individuals on her back patio.

The incident followed an earlier call at approximately 1:29 a.m., when officers responded to reports of shots heard at a nearby location on Northwest 9th Place. Upon arrival at that scene, several individuals were accused of fleeing, police said.

Officers searching the area later located three males accused of hiding on a dock behind a residence. The individuals were identified as 18-year-olds Evan Marquis Brown and Eric Michael Brown, both of Jacksonville, and 18-year-old Nayshawn Gooden of Fort Myers.

Police said all three were taken into custody and read their Miranda rights. According to authorities, the Brown brothers declined to speak with officers, while Gooden agreed to an interview. Investigators said Gooden told officers he had been dropped off by a Uber, though his explanation for being there changed multiple times and he was unable to provide a clear reason.

A sworn statement from the homeowner, Candice Carmany, indicated she observed three males running across her patio around 2 a.m. She told police she had not given anyone permission to be on her property but did not see the individuals attempt to enter her home.

Gulf Coast News spoke with Candice on Friday, who told us she hid in her bathroom and locked her door until police arrived.

"It was scary because at the time when I went into my bathroom, I didn't know if the people in my back patio were going to crawl under my window. I didn't know because they were open," Candice told Gulf Coast News.

All three individuals were described as wearing black clothing at the time of the incident.

Based on the circumstances, including the witness statement and Gooden’s post-Miranda statements, police determined there was probable cause to arrest the Brown brothers on one count each of loitering and prowling under Florida law. Authorities said their actions and reported attempts to conceal themselves caused reasonable concern for the safety of persons or property in the area.

All three suspects were transported to the Lee County Jail without incident. It was not immediately clear whether additional charges would be filed.

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