ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The St. Pete Police Department is investigating after a man was found tied up and in critical condition in his home.
At 3 a.m. Friday, St. Petersburg Police were called to investigate a noise complaint of a loud stereo blaring music from 1908 21st Avenue North.
When the officers tried to contact the resident, they looked through the window and saw a man who was physically restrained and in distress, police say.
“At that point it became imperative to be able to get inside. They had to break glass, break a window in order to unlock the door and get inside,“ said Yolanda Fernandez, a spokesperson for the St. Pete Police Department.
Officers entered the home and called rescue. It's unknown how long he had been there, but St. Pete police believe he was there for longer than a day.
The victim, a 61-year-old man, was hospitalized and is in critical condition, authorities say.
It is early in the investigation, but police believe he was the victim of a home invasion.
“He lives alone, so it’s really something that we are either going to have to rely on other witnesses, neighbors in the area who might’ve seen something, or, once his condition improves, then hopefully will be able to speak with him and get more information that way," said Fernandez.
The police department credits the neighbor who made the noise complaint. They say had they waited much longer, it could have been a much different situation.
“We certainly did not expect to find a man and a man in distress, bound in his own home when we got a noise complaint. Noise complaints are common, and a lot of times by the time the officers arrive, it’s gone, the person has moved on, or they’ve turned the music off or whatever it is that was offending anyone, but in this case, we were very lucky that someone took the time to call in the complaint and then our officers went through it and tried to find the person who is inside the house,“ said Fernandez.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or have any information, to please call St. Petersburg police at 727-893-7780 or text SPPD+ your tip to TIP411.
