DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – A man who smashed his way into the North Regional Courthouse over the weekend in Deerfield Beach turned himself in to authorities Monday night, deputies said.
According to a Broward Sheriff's Office representative, Joel Hooten, 35, surrendered after seeing himself on various news outlets.
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According to detectives, the courthouse's security captain arrived at the courthouse about 6:30 a.m. Monday to open for the day and discovered that one of the entrance doors had been smashed.
The employee reviewed the security cameras and discovered that a man with one hand had used a bat to smash the entrance door just before 9 a.m. on Sunday.
He conducted a quick safety check of the building and called BSO.
The building was evacuated as a precaution while deputies searched the building with K-9s.
According to BSO spokeswoman Joy Oglesby, Hooten tried to open several doors and eventually entered one room, and stayed there for a few minutes.
Staff members reported that nothing appeared to be missing from the courthouse.
According to detectives, Hooten, who works as a painter, claimed to be at the courthouse to work. But investigators said he had no reason to be there.
Hooten faces an armed burglary charge.