BRADENTON, Fla. — A significant incident unfolded in Bradenton as the general manager of a local restaurant was arrested following what police referred to as a “bungled burglary.”
William “Billy” Johnson, 43, was taken into custody on Tuesday evening, according to police reports.
On that same Tuesday morning, an employee of Oak & Stone, situated at 1201 Barcarrota Blvd., arrived for work only to find the entrance unlocked. Alarmingly, the safe inside was found open and empty, while the cash register at the bar showed signs of having been forced open, as stated in a police news release.
The employee promptly informed Johnson about the situation. Johnson claimed he had securely locked the restaurant at 12:45 a.m.
Police detectives obtained security footage from Oak & Stone that revealed a man with his face covered entering the manager’s office at 5:44 a.m. He was seen unplugging the security cameras, as mentioned in the news release.
Further investigation led detectives to review multiple nearby surveillance cameras. They identified Johnson parking a Kia SUV several blocks away from Oak & Stone; police confirmed the vehicle was registered in his name.
After parking, Johnson walked to the restaurant, used a key to enter, and was seen exiting approximately ten minutes later. Notably, he wiped the door handles and left the door unlocked, according to police statements.
When approached by detectives, Johnson declined to comment but was ultimately arrested at his home and charged with burglary. The investigation into the case is ongoing.
Key Information
- Incident Type: Burglary
- Location: Oak & Stone, 1201 Barcarrota Blvd, Bradenton, FL
- Arrested Individual: William “Billy” Johnson, 43
- Date of Arrest: Tuesday evening
- Details of the Incident: Unlocked entrance, open safe, forced cash register
- Surveillance Evidence: Video of Johnson tampering with cameras and entering the restaurant
- Charges: Burglary
- Status of Investigation: Ongoing
Article original publish date: 2025-04-30 03:24:00
Article source: www.baynews9.com
Read the full story at the original source: www.baynews9.com
