BUNNELL, FL – On Wednesday, May 22, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies made an arrest for Armed Burglary and Grand Theft over $20,000 at a Bunnell gun store after a two-month-long investigation.
At approximately 8:11 a.m. on March 27, deputies responded to a call from an employee of Pioneer Guns & Ammo who had been notified by a neighboring business that the gun store had appeared to have been burglarized.
Evidence at the scene indicated the burglary occurred at 2:15 a.m. Surveillance camera footage showed the suspect and accomplices entering the closed business by breaking a glass door and slithering through the security bars. After forcing open a display case, the suspect stole multiple handguns and two long guns.
FCSO’s Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) and detectives responded. Using Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) technology, a suspect vehicle was identified. CSI investigators also recovered blood from the scene where the suspect had cut themselves during the burglary. During the investigation a person of interest was identified: Dale Mesagaes, 16, of Palm Coast.
Detectives interviewed Mesagaes and spoke with his mother. Then, on April 23, his mother advised that she had located the stolen weapons. A bag, which appeared to have been buried, was turned into FCSO Evidence containing 34 of the 37 stolen firearms. The handguns, magazines, and long guns were positively identified as belonging to Pioneer Guns & Ammo.
Detective First Class Moy from FCSO’s Digital Forensics Unit discovered incriminating text messages from Mesagaes’ cell phone. Additionally, DNA experts matched Mesagaes’ DNA with the DNA left at the crime scene during the burglary.
“Our investigators, CSI, and RTCC teams worked hard to get these guns off the street before they could be used in violent crimes,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This kid learned the hard way that this was a very bad decision. Because of the dangerous potential of his crime, I hope the State Attorney will charge him as an adult and hold him accountable.”
Detectives obtained a warrant for Mesagaes’ arrest for Burglary While Armed with a Firearm and Grand Theft over $20k with damage over $1,000. The total amount of stolen firearms was $25,859.63. Mesagaes was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility for processing and then transferred to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice where he is being detained.
For surveillance video and bodycam of the arrest: https://bit.ly/3KeLvEZ
