KENDALL, Fla. — A Homestead man is facing serious charges after police said he burglarized several vehicles and opened fire at one of the victims ― a federal agent.
Deputies arrested Brian Ponce, 25, on several serious charges, including second-degree attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and third-degree grand theft.
The initial burglaries occurred in the area of Southwest 120th Street and 122nd Avenue in Kendall around midnight on Sept. 1.
It was a short distance away, along 120th Street and 123rd Place, that police said Ponce burglarized the personal vehicle of a Homeland Security Investigations agent.
According to police, after the victim noticed his vehicle had been burglarized, he saw a light-colored pickup truck parked in front of his neighbor’s home with the driver’s door open.
The victim told police he armed himself and approached the vehicle as Ponce was walking toward it from the neighbor’s driveway.
Police said the two got into a physical altercation when the victim attempted to take Ponce into custody and while Ponce was able to break free, his beanie and part of his shirt were ripped off and were ultimately taken into evidence.
As Ponce drove away, police said he fired two shots at the victim and the victim returned fire, but neither were hit.
Investigators were able to use Ponce’s hat and shirt, the victim’s description of his vehicle, and surveillance footage captured from several of the burglaries to positively identify him and his truck.
After authorities determined the pickup truck was Ponce’s, they went to his home on Wednesday and took him into custody without incident.
According to Ponce’s arrest report, he provided investigators a full confession, but the specifics were redacted from the form.
He was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond is listed as “to be set” for several of his charges.
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