BARTOW, Fla. — A 74-year-old Bartow man, who ABC Action News is not identifying, told us he’s spent his life helping others in need and never thought two people that approached him were dangerous.
Bartow police say the victim recently lost his wife and was crying in his driveway when the two suspects befriended him. The victim told ABC Action News reporter Michael Paluska that Taaka Allday told him she lost her mother a few days prior and the couple needed help.
But, Bartow Police say Allday’s accomplice, Amos Hunter, only befriended the victim to earn his trust and burglarize him later.
In a news release police say, “Allday told the elderly victim she did not have a place to live and the victim allowed her and suspect Hunter to stay the night at his residence. The following day, the elderly victim informed Hunter and Allday they needed to leave his residence as he was leaving to travel out of the state. The victim ended up taking the suspects to Wal-Mart and then dropped them off near his residence where they told him they would wait for Allday's daughter to pick them up.”
Investigators said a Good Samaritan who works nearby heard what sounded like a door getting kicked in. He called 911 and police arrested Hunter and Allday in a parking lot near the victim’s home. Police said they were in possession of some of the victim’s prescription medications.
The victim said he was “stupid” for trusting the couple. But, he felt they really needed help and he wanted to do what he could for them around the holidays.
Hunter was arrested and charged with burglary of a dwelling and criminal mischief. Allday was arrested and charged with burglary of a dwelling, criminal mischief, and grand theft of a controlled substance.
