ICE seeks deportation of alleged burglar 

A 19-year-old Port St. Joe man is facing possible deportation to his native Mexico after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a detainer request following his arrest on charges of armed burglary and stalking.

Wayner Garcia Bravo was arrested by Port St. Joe police on March 1, the same day an officer responded to a morning call from the Windmark subdivision that someone had entered the home by cutting the screen on an unlocked window.

The female resident told police that after she awoke, “it was obvious someone had been in her home during the night,” according to the probable cause affidavit. She told police that after reviewing her Ring camera footage, a male could be seen driving by in a white van, who later walked in her yard wearing “black colored tennis type shoes” and a tan jacket.

Using the department’s Flock camera system, Officer Jesse Burkett developed a suspect, who he located at a construction site on Avenue D in Port St. Joe. He said the suspect was wearing shoes, and had a jacket, similar to what had been viewed in the Ring camera footage.

Bravo accompanied the officer back to the department headquarters and an interpreter was brought in, as the suspect spoke broken English, according to the probable cause affidavit. It says Bravo understood his Miranda rights, and waived them, with the entire interview recorded on body camera.

“Bravo advised he was familiar with the victim and covertly followed her” around 11 p.m. from the Dollar General. The officer said Bravo told him that he was driving the white van, was its only occupant and was the individual seen on the Ring camera footage. A review of the bottom of Bravo’s tennis shoes indicated they matched the footprints taken at the scene by Lt. Russell Burch. 

“Bravo freely advised he had been consuming alcohol prior to this incident,” read the police report. 

He told officers he used a utility knife to cut the screen of the unlocked window. “Bravo advised that after gaining access to the home he was looking to steal,” read the affidavit. “(He) advised while inside the residence he observed a child asleep in one of the bedrooms and eased the door shut. (He) also advised that the only property he stole from inside the residence was a dress which he later discarded on the drive back into Port St. Joe.”

Following his first appearance before County Judge Tim McFarland, Bravo was ordered held without bond and to have no contact with the victim. He pleaded not guilty and is being represented by the public defender’s officer.

Also on March 3, Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer that indicates Bravo “either lacks immigration status or notwithstanding such status is removable under U.S. law.” The detainer requires that Bravo be held for 48 hours after he would otherwise be released from custody, so as to allow the Department of Homeland Security to assume custody.

Bravo is set to appear before Circuit Judge Devin Collier on June 24.