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Man in SpongeBob clothing arrested on sex-related charges

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A man wearing a SpongeBob jacket and shoes was arrested in St. Petersburg after a woman woke up to find him standing over her.

Police responded to the area of 21st Ave. S. and 7th St. regarding a home burglary.

A woman who was asleep on her couch awoke to a man wearing a SpongeBob jacket and shoes standing over her. He ran when she called police.

About 20 minutes later, he was seen near 22nd Ave. S. and 5th St. looking through the window of a home where a woman was getting dressed for work.

"I walk up to the window and just wooosh," said Demora Bailey, while she makes a gesture as if she's opening her curtain, "and there he was and I couldn't believe it." 

Bailey ran after the suspect, asking him why he was looking through her window.

"He's like, 'I'm running from the cops, what do you think I'm doing'," she said.

She also called police. 

As officers arrived, the man ran and was chased by officers. 

He eventually ended up at Louise and Elbert Wilson's home a coupple of blocks away. 

"The dog is what gave him away," said Elbert, who says her dog's barking helped police track the suspect inside their recycling bin where he was hiding. 

They say he told officers his name was John Doe as they took him away. 

You just need to lock up the jail and throw away the keys," said Elbert. 

Steven Charles Kirkland, 32, was arrested and charged with occupied residential burglary, loitering and prowling, trespassing and unoccupied residential burglary.

He was also previously wanted for two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12 from last week.

"Perverts like that don't belong on the street," said Bailey. 

Detectives believe there could be more victims. If anyone has any information on this man and other possible incidents, please contact the St. Petersburg Police Department.

 

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