DAYTONA BEACH -- The man who terrorized a mother and her children during an armed home invasion robbery Saturday night turned out to have been staying at a home across the street the past four days, Volusia Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said earlier tonight.
The mother spotted the suspect, Jonathan Pearson, across the street midday Sunday and recognized him as her assailant, Haught said.
She immediately called 911. Deputies responded to 1213 David Drive, Daytona Beach, and took Pearson into custody for questioning. He was then arrested and transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.
The mother, 13-year-old daughter, and other witnesses in the neighborhood were able to positively identify Pearson as the man who broke through the door of 1212 David Drive at about 8:26 Saturday night," Haught said.
"The teen was in the living room when it happened and was the first to be confronted at gunpoint by Pearson," Haught said. "The mother, 29-year-old
Latasha Smith, then ran into the living room along with three other children between the ages of 2 months and six years old. Pearson swung the rifle around, endangering all of the children and Smith, before finally pointing the gun directly at Smith and demanding money. Smith gave several hundred dollars to him and Pearson finally fled."
No shots were fired and no one was injured, Haught said, adding Smith also told deputies that Pearson had knocked on her door at about 6 p.m. that same evening asking for someone who didn't live at Smith's house. At that time, Smith had not opened the door for Pearson, instead speaking to him through the unopened door, but she did see him through a window.
At about 11:51 a.m. Sunday, Smith saw Pearson across the street and called 911. Whendeputies spoke with the 24-year-old, he claimed to have never left 1213 David Drivethe previous night, but the homeowner he stayed with contradicted that statement,saying that Pearson had been gone all night. Pearson lives in Bunnell, but had beenstaying with a friend at 1213 David Drive.
Pearson was charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm, grand theft, two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of aggravated child abuse, and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The investigation is continuing due tothe possibility that another suspect had driven Pearson's getaway vehicle since, witnesses reported seeing him get into the passenger side of the car.