Ormond Beach, FL – A 30-year-old robbery suspect ends up behind bars after an elderly woman tells deputies she came home and found her hiding in a closet.
Amber Birchfield was arrested Monday night at a home on John Anderson Drive and is held on $3,500 bond at Volusia County Jail as of Noon Tuesday on burglary and theft charges.
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Gary Davidson says the call for help came in just before 11pm Monday at the Villa Sereno condominiums on Ocean Shore Boulevard near Ormond Beach.
“The victim came home to find some things out of place in her townhouse, such as a door ajar and her laptop not the way she had left it,” Davidson added. “Then the victim heard the sound of footsteps coming from the upstairs of her residence.”
The 79-year-old woman told deputies she went upstairs to investigate and that’s when Birchfield came down the stairs.
“She said the stranger had been hiding in her closet,” Davidson noted. “The victim confronted the woman and tried to grab her by the arms to restrain her, but the suspect broke free and bolted out of the residence.”
The woman tried to follow Birchfield but lost sight of her and opted to go back to her home instead, per Davidson. That’s when she discovered several jewelry pieces were missing.
“When the victim recounted the story to responding deputies, they immediately suspected Birchfield,” Davidson said. “About 2 hours earlier, deputies responded to a call about a mile away from a woman who said she knew Birchfield and had found her in her house.”
Deputies trespassed Birchfield from the residence, taking down information in the process which allowed VCSO to track her down to a home on John Anderson Drive, according to Davidson.
“She initially offered to return the stolen jewelry if the victim wouldn’t press charges,” Davidson said. “But after she was told that no deal would be made, she turned over some of the missing jewelry.”
VCSO is trying to find the other pieces Birchfield allegedly took.
VCJ records show Birchfield’s been booked there 6 other times since May 2010, including last October 6th for drug possession. She’s also been charged in the past with driving with a suspended license, aggravated battery on an elderly person, drug paraphernalia possession and driving under the influence.
Amber Birchfield (mugshot courtesy VCJ)
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