Video: General Manager of Bradenton Oak & Stone Allegedly Charged with Burglary at the Business

BRADENTON, Fla. – The general manager of Oak & Stone in Bradenton has been arrested after police say he was caught on camera burglarizing the restaurant earlier this week.

The backstory:

According to the Bradenton Police Department, an employee of Oak & Stone, located at 1201 Barcarrota Blvd., arrived at work Tuesday morning to find the entrance unlocked.

Police reported that the restaurant’s safe was found open and empty, while the cash register at the bar appeared to have been forcibly opened.

READ:

Florida man accused of sexually assaulting woman, locking her in storage container arrested

The employee immediately informed general manager William Johnson, 43, who claimed he had locked the restaurant at 12:45 a.m.

Dig deeper:

Investigators reviewed video from inside Oak & Stone, showing a man with his face covered entering the manager’s office at 5:44 a.m. and unplugging the security cameras, although he overlooked the city’s surveillance system.

“Thanks to our extensive network of city and local business cameras, we traced the suspect’s movements. He parked several blocks away,” noted Bradenton Police Department Public Information Officer Meredith Censullo.

READ:

Tampa nonprofit president accused of fraud after more than 100 seniors displaced from community

City cameras allowed authorities to track the vehicle used by the suspect.

He was observed parking a Kia SUV, registered to Johnson, several blocks from the restaurant. According to police, he entered the restaurant using a key he had. Ten minutes later, he exited, wiped the door handles clean, and left the door ajar. He returned to the Kia carrying a deposit bag.

Detectives investigated video footage from several nearby cameras.

What they’re saying:

Johnson was arrested at his residence, but he chose not to speak with detectives.

“When we later attempted to contact him for arrest, he was unwilling to engage,” Censullo added.

“Every action he took was captured on camera; he likely didn’t consider that while planning the burglary,” Censullo remarked.

CLICK HERE:>>>

Follow FOX 13 on YouTube

Detectives confirmed Johnson stole around $3,500 from the restaurant, which remains under investigation for recovery.

What you can do:

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Detective Rachael Tobie at rachael.tobie@bradentonpd.com.

Anonymous tips can also be made through Crime Stoppers at manateecrimestoppers.com or by calling 866-634-8477 (TIPS).

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:

Key Information

• Location: Oak & Stone, 1201 Barcarrota Blvd, Bradenton, Florida
• Suspect: William Johnson, 43, General Manager
• Crime: Burglary, approximately $3,500 stolen from the restaurant
• Time of Incident: Early morning, Tuesday, with surveillance video capturing the act
• Arrest Status: Johnson was arrested at home and declined to speak with detectives
• Recovery Efforts: Police are currently working to recover the stolen funds
• Contact: Tips can be sent to Detective Rachael Tobie or anonymously to Crime Stoppers