A naked and masked robbery suspect sparked chaos inside a Florida meat market after allegedly stealing more than $1,000 while believed to be armed.
Police in Lake City say the disturbing incident unfolded around 8:50 p.m. on December 23, when officers rushed to BJ’s Meat Market following reports of a business robbery just days before Christmas.
Investigators quickly learned the suspect was not wearing clothes, aside from a face covering, creating an alarming situation for employees and customers.
Officers interviewed store workers, confirmed no one was physically hurt, and reviewed surveillance footage that showed the suspect entering the business nude except for the mask.
The video helped police piece together the suspect’s movements as he fled the scene.
After obtaining a description and learning the direction the suspect traveled, officers locked down the surrounding area and launched an aggressive search.
Police said the goal was to locate the suspect quickly while protecting the public from what they believed could be an armed individual.
As officers combed the area, they discovered items believed to be connected to the robbery scattered along the suspect’s escape route.
Clothing and other evidence were collected as investigators worked to reconstruct the moments after the robbery.
The Lake City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division joined the effort, processing the scene, documenting evidence, and continuing follow-up work aimed at identifying and tracking down the suspect.
The suspect was later identified as Kobe Watkins, 24, who was detained with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities transported Watkins for a medical evaluation before booking him into the Columbia County Detention Center.
Police said store employees believed Watkins was armed during the robbery, adding another layer of danger to the already bizarre crime.
Investigators said he allegedly had a piece of cloth wrapped around an object in his hand, leading workers to fear it was a weapon.
According to investigators, Watkins allegedly forced open a cash box and fled with more than $1,000 taken from the market. Officers later recovered evidence that they believe tied him directly to the crime.
Lake City Police Department Chief Gerard Butler addressed the incident after the arrest, calling the scene unsettling for both workers and responding officers.
“Incidents like this are unsettling, but our officers responded quickly, secured the scene, and worked with our partners to identify and arrest the suspect,” Butler stated.
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“We appreciate the swift assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the cooperation from the business employees that helped bring this to a safe resolution.”
Watkins now faces a list of serious charges stemming from the incident, including armed robbery, exposure of sexual organs, grand theft, and criminal mischief.
Police noted that this was not the first time Florida officers have dealt with a suspect accused of committing crimes while nude, pointing to a recent arrest involving similar behavior.
The Lake City case unfolded as law enforcement across Florida continued to deal with unusual thefts and robberies tied to high-value goods and brazen suspects.
Ahead of the holidays, deputies in Miami-Dade arrested a man accused of stealing hundreds of pounds of avocados from a fenced grove during the early morning hours.
Investigators said the theft involved an agricultural site clearly marked with a No Trespassing sign.
Edel Perez, 29, was arrested after deputies said they observed him leaving the grove carrying bags of avocados estimated to weigh roughly 400 pounds.
Officers later found additional bags of freshly picked avocados inside the grove and in Perez’s Mercedes-Benz.
Deputies said loose avocados were also found inside the vehicle’s trunk, further tying Perez to the alleged theft.
The stolen fruit was estimated to be worth about $800, according to the arrest affidavit.
Perez allegedly told deputies he was unemployed and planned to sell the avocados to buy Christmas presents for his two children.
He now faces charges of trespassing on an agricultural site and third-degree grand theft.
Elsewhere, a Texas man accused of stealing more than $1,700 worth of brisket from grocery stores across Central Texas was arrested after what police described as a weekend-long theft spree.
Armando Salazar, 51, of Baytown, was taken into custody on December 6 and charged with theft under $2,500 with two or more prior convictions.
Authorities said Salazar allegedly targeted multiple grocery stores, focusing on high-value cuts of meat.
Police said the thefts spanned several locations, including H-E-B and Walmart stores in Buda, as well as grocery stores in Manor and Austin. Investigators later connected the incidents after recognizing a clear pattern.
The Buda Police Department drew attention to the case by labeling it the “Brisket Caper” in a Facebook post that quickly circulated online.
In the post, police wrote, “On Saturday, December 6th, while many of us were enjoying Budafest activities, Mr. Salazar decided not to partake in our wonderful food vendors on Main Street and in City Park.”
Instead, officers said Salazar focused on grocery stores selling expensive meat, noting in the same post that he “stole over $1,700 worth of brisket from H-E-B (Buda), Walmart Buda, and stores in Manor and Austin.”
After coordinating with neighboring departments, Buda officers alerted Kyle police, who later found Salazar inside their local H-E-B.
Authorities believed he was preparing to steal meat again when officers located him.
In a joking reference shared by police, the department noted Salazar was “likely trying to continue to purloin the sirloin.” The update was later captioned, “Brisket Caper Caught!”
Salazar was booked on theft charges with bond set at $2,500, according to police records.
