Volusia Sheriff: Guns kept off street as deputies make textbook arrest

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Courtesy photo /Antonio Browning was arrested Monday on charges of breaking into a DeLand residence after he was spotted by a neighbor who alertly called 9-1-1.

DELAND -- Three minutes after receiving the call today, Volusia County Sheriff's deputies were on the scene of a burglary in progress near DeLand, an agency spokeswoman said

Twenty minutes after surrounding the house at 306 S. Sheridan Ave., alerting the Sheriff's Office helicopter, and having two K-9 officers on scene, deputies swarmed the house, and 22-year-old Antonio Browning had his hands up, surrendering.

What they found inside the house made this arrest even more significant.

The tip came from a neighbor who spotted the man climbing into his neighbor's home through a back window. The neighbor knew the homeowner was not there and immediately called 911.

Browning had no time to escape and gave up without a struggle.

"Once in custody Browning was asked by investigators what he planned to steal. Browning replied 'nothing in particular,'" Sheriff's spokeswoman Priscilla Ress said. "However, there were several handguns inside the house, one which had been moved and placed next to a bag. Browning said he moved the pistol to the side because he found some rifles. He told deputies he planned to sell what he stole to feed his cannabis habit and his family."

Browning was due in circuit court in Volusia County on Wednesday to be arraigned for another DeLand home burglary that he was arrested for by DeLand Police in February.

Browning is on early release from Florida state prison for burglary. He is now charged with armed burglary, grand theft of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of burglary tools.

He was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona where he was being held on  $55,000 bond.