Two teens arrested during Crystal River search after armed home invasion
Crystal River, Florida - On Sunday night, May 7, 2023, Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a home in Crystal River due to a 911 call that reported an armed home invasion that had just occurred at the residence.
One of the victims, the first victim, told deputies that he or she (s/he) had heard a noise coming from the bedroom, and when s/he went to determine what had made the noise, s/he saw two people in the hallway s/he did not know, one of whom was armed. The suspects were later identified as Ryan Thomas Wainwright and Cameron David Ingram, both only 16 years of age.
The first victim told deputies that Wainwright demanded the keys to their vehicle while Ingram pointed a gun at the other resident, the second victim, who was asleep. The first victim said, that when Ingram obtained the keys, he gave them to Wainwright, who exited the residence to start the vehicle. The first victim said that s/he twice attempted to leave the residence, but was stopped by Wainwright, who directed him/her to sit on the couch.
Before leaving the residence, the two suspects took the phones of both victims, and after the suspects left the home, the victims went to a neighboring residence to call 911.
A short time after the suspects left the victims' residence, deputies located the victims' vehicle stopped on the side of the road with the two suspects inside it. When deputies activated the emergency lights on their patrol vehicles, the suspects immediately took off in the stolen vehicle, attempting to flee from deputies. The suspects crossed North Suncoast Boulevard in Crystal River before crashing into a wooded area, and both suspects then exited the vehicle and ran into the woods.
The CCSO's Air Unit was deployed to assist the ground units in locating the suspects, who were soon spotted in the Crystal River. The Air Unit observed both suspects as they exited the river, removed their clothing, and attempted to hide. Additional patrol units responded to the area and converged on both sides of the river and soon located both suspects hiding under a floating dock.
All the items that had been stolen by the suspects were recovered. Ryan Wainwright and Cameron Ingram were arrested and transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Ocala, Florida.
Ryan Thomas Wainwright was charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm, false imprisonment, grand theft of an automobile, grand theft of more than $750 but less than $5,000, battery of a person 65 years of age or older, resisting a law enforcement officer without violence, and fleeing from and eluding law enforcement personnel.
Cameron David Ingram was charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft of an automobile, grand theft of more than $750 but less than $5,000, resisting a law enforcement officer without violence, and leaving the scene of an accident.
"It is exceedingly disappointing to see two individuals, at such a young age, committing crimes such as the ones in this case," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "These two juveniles ran away from their homes, caused us to spend valuable time and resources looking for them, and then turned to unconscionable felony behavior towards innocent citizens. I am proud of my team's rapid actions in tracking down these individuals and putting an end to their criminal behavior before they caused any further harm to anyone else."