Detectives with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate a series of crimes that occurred in the North West District of the county within the past several months. Detectives received tips from the community and were able to ascertain that three adults and two teens were involved in several burglaries and arson.

A witness learned of one of the incidents through Facebook and notified the Sheriff’s Office that she saw a vehicle traveling in Jacksonville with music equipment that matched items allegedly stolen from a St. Johns County School.

As detectives followed up on the tip, they began working with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in an attempt to locate the vehicle and property. The suspect vehicle was located on Race Track Road, where deputies conducted a traffic stop. Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver told deputies he was on probation and he did not want to go to jail. As deputies spoke with the driver, they were able to see several items in plain view inside the vehicle, which they recognized as possible items stolen during the recent burglaries.

Detectives continued to identify and interview additional suspects in this case based on the roadside investigation. Today, three of the suspects were arrested on charges relating to a burglary at Cunningham Creek Elementary School on June 28, 2012. Additionally, information was obtained regarding two of the suspects’ involvement in the arson of two buses at local daycare on June 12, 2012, totaling in $74,000 worth of damage.

The suspects are identified as Shane Michael Havlik, 16, 860 Brookstone Court St. Johns, FL (arrested and charged with burglary theft, trespass, dealing in stolen property and criminal mischief); Montgomery Sinclair McCaffrey, 18, 104 Findhorn Court St. Johns, FL (arrested and charged with accessory after the fact and trespassing); Samuel Lee Maxey, 15, 200 Leese Drive St. Johns, FL (arrested and charged with accessory after the fact and trespassing). Charges have been filed against the two suspects identified in the arson.

The investigation continues into similar crimes in the area and additional charges are pending. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Mike Smith (904)-209-2142 or Crime Stoppers.

Source: St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office