CHURCH BURGLAR WAS A WITNESS

PUNTA GORDA POLICE ARRESTED TWO TEENS MONDAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BURGLARY OF A CHURCH EARLIER THIS MONTH.  POLICE SAY THE PUNTA GORDA CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE WAS ROBBED BACK ON AUGUST 10^TH, WITH SEVERAL PIECES OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT COMING UP MISSING.  POLICE SAY ONE OF THE TWO TEENS ARRESTED, 17 YEAR OLD SANTINO PERALTA, CRITICIZED CHARLOTTE COUNTY 911 OPERATIONS FOR NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE BURGLARY CALL, AND HE AND HIS FAMILY ACCUSED DEPUTIES OF NOT GETTING OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES TO CHECK AROUND THE CHURCH.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED IT WAS PERALTA WHO DROVE THREE PEOPLE, INCLUDING 17 YEAR OLD JUSTIN ROSE, TO A RESIDENCE IN A LARGE DARK BLUE SUV WITH THE ITEMS STOLEN FROM THE CHURCH.  PERALTA CONFESSED AND IMPLICATED ROSE AND A 3^RD PERSON.  POLICE HAVE YET TO RELEASE INFORMATION ON THAT SUSPECT, BUT THEY CHARGED BOTH ROSE AND PERALTA WITH BURGLARY, GRAND THEFT AND VANDALISM.  THEY WERE BOTH TAKEN TO THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL AND RELEASED TO PARENTS.