NORTH PORT — Police arrested a man who was allegedly trying to break into a vehicle parked at Quality TV Saturday night. Joseph Mitchell Kern, 44, of the 3200 block of Sheboygan Ave., was arrested on charges of unarmed burglary of a conveyance, petty theft and obstruction of an officer after he allegedly tried to break into a work van and fled from officers.
According to a North Port police report, around 8 p.m., a male witness who lives on the second floor above Quality TV, on Tamiami Trail near the Shell south gas station, was told by his daughter there was a man sitting in the passenger side of one of the work vans. The witness called police and then confronted the man, who was holding a TV remote control inside the van, the report shows. Kern told the witness he was “resting” inside his work vehicle, the report said. The witness told the man it wasn’t his work vehicle and to get out. Suddenly, they heard sirens and Kern fled on foot. The witness chased him. NPPD Officer Tony Donohew began following both men, telling them to stop. The witness complied, but Kern kept running. The witness told Donohew he was the one who called police. By that time, Kern was gone. Police then established a perimeter around the area, with K-9 units as well as the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Air One helicopter to track Kern. The Air One pilot spotted Kern hiding behind a house, but he fled again. He was found on Otis Road and arrested at 10:42 p.m. Kern told police he was scared and knew he was running from police, the report shows. He remained at the Sarasota County Jail Tuesday on $5,870 bond.