Cape Coral Police have arrested two suspects and charged them in connection with a reported home invasion Friday morning at 607 SE 46th Terrace. Candelario Zerquera, 22, of 1619 Embers Terrace and Juan Carlos Roman, 24, of 912 31st Lane, have been charged with Armed Occupied Burglary, Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Battery.
At 5:50 a.m., Friday the 911 Dispatch received a call from Daniel Jacob Cook reporting an armed burglary at his home. Daniel said that he and his brother, David, were awakened earlier in the morning by two men who had entered the residence. According to Daniel, a man wearing a bandana entered his bedroom brandishing a rifle with a bayonet affixed to the end of the barrel. The gunman ordered Daniel out of bed. As he reached down to grab a pair of shorts, the armed suspect fired one round at him, which missed and struck the wall. The gunman ordered Daniel to his knees and began to strike him with the butt of the rifle causing significant injury to the left side of his head and eye.
According to David N. Cook he awoke to find another man, also wearing a bandana, at the entrance of his bedroom shining a flashlight at him. David said he was exiting his bed when he heard a gunshot from another area of the home. The intruder fled from the home at the sound of gunfire.
David Cook told Cape Police that he had a physical altercation the previous evening with Zerquera. He also identified Roman as one of the men who entered his home. Cape Police were directed to 4519 SE 14th Place as a possible location for Zerquera and Roman.
After arriving at SE 14th Place, Cape Police found several subjects at the residence and directed them to exit the home. All subjects complied, except for Zerquera, who hid in the attic and refused to leave. As a weapon was unaccounted for, Cape Police treated Zerquera as a barricaded subject and established a perimeter. The SWAT Unit was called in to assist, however, Zerquera exited the home and was taken into custody without incident. Roman, who also was at the residence, initially vacated the home. However, he continued to refuse to comply with police orders and was placed under arrest for obstruction.
Through a series of interviews with witnesses, Cape detectives determined that Zerquera and Roman were the two suspects who entered the Cook’s residence and committed the burglary and assault. Detectives also discovered that a weapon matching the description of the rifle used in this incident was reported stolen during a recent burglary.
The investigation is continuing. Both men were in the Lee County Detention Center as of Sunday night.
Source: Cape Coral Police Department