SPRING HILL, Fla – Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three teens playing ‘Ding, Dong, Ditch’ in a Spring Hill neighborhood.
Deputies responded to the 2300 block of Landover Boulevard in Spring Hill about a report of a burglary of an “occupied dwelling.”
Deputies spoke to a homeowner who said around 1:30 a.m.; he heard someone knocking.
The man looked out of the rear sliding glass door and saw four juveniles walking in-between houses. About 30 minutes later, the man heard loud banging coming from his front door.
In the news: Hernando County Deputy Saves Woman Who Overdosed On Fentanyl
Deputies said when the man walked to the front door; he found it had been forced open.
The door frame was completely broken, and there was damage to the door consistent with being kicked in, deputies say.
Additional deputies quickly arrived on the scene to set up a perimeter around the neighborhood to locate the four juvenile suspects.
Deputies immediately located one of the juvenile suspects, a 17-year-old male.
The teen, who is not being identified due to no charges being filed, told deputies he would pay for whatever damage was caused by his friends to the victim’s door.
The teen also provided deputies with the names of his three friends, including Gage Carlisto, 17, Brittney Sweetman, 16, and Danyna Ferrara, 17.
A K-9 and his handler were able to track the three juvenile suspects to a home on Timbercrest Road, the home of the first teenager located by law enforcement.
In the news: Hernando County Schools Superintendent Bill Goes To DeSantis
When the three juveniles saw law enforcement, they fled the area by running through backyards and jumping fences. Following a brief chase, all three juvenile suspects were apprehended and transported to the District 2 office in Spring Hill for questioning.
All four suspects admitted to walking through the neighborhood while playing a game called “Ding, Dong, Ditch.”
This game is where a person rings a doorbell and then runs away before the person answers the door.
The teen, who is not being identified, said that when he knocked on the victim’s door and ran away, he then heard someone else kick in the door.
The teen told deputies the only person near the door when it was kicked in was Carlisto.
Carlisto, Sweetman, and Ferrara all denied kicking in the victim’s door. All three juveniles did admit to running away from law enforcement so they wouldn’t get into trouble.
In the news: HERicane Florida To Make Landfall In Hernando County July 10th-14th
Carlisto was arrested on one count of Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling and Resisting an Officer without Violence. Sweetman and Ferrara were each charged with one count of Resisting an Officer without Violence.
After processing at the Detention Center, Carlisto was transported to a Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Ocala. Sweetman and Ferrara were released into the custody of their parents.
The investigation is ongoing, with additional charges pending further investigation.
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.