Police chief praises investigator

Windermere Police Chief David Ogden has great admiration for new Police Detective John Allen.

At the June 10 Windermere Town Council meeting, the chief said Allen quickly helped solve an April 30 home-invasion/kidnapping case on Lake Butler Boulevard.

This incident occurred just before 11 p.m. April 30. Law-enforcement officials said when the homeowners arrived home in their carport/garage area, they were met by three masked men holding handguns. The suspects forced the homeowners into the house, bound their hands with zip ties and put pillowcases over their heads, officials said. 

The suspects repeatedly threatened the residents, disabled the home’s alarm and telephone and damaged computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment that would permit communication to summon help to the house, officials said. They said the suspects remained fully clothed and masked the entire time and eventually stole $1,800 in cash and $25,000 worth of jewelry.

No one was injured, and ultimately the suspects stole one of the homeowner’s vehicles and fled westbound, officials said. The vehicle was left abandoned at the northwest corner of State Road 535 and Lake Butler.

On May 12, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested the three suspects on various charges. Allen is “one of the best investigators in the area,” and his investigative skills were crucial in capturing the suspects, Ogden said at the June 10 council meeting.

On Ogden’s Facebook page, the chief said Allen has more than 33 years of law-enforcement experience. 

Allen “has spent numerous years in specialized investigative assignments such as Homicide Unit, Intelligence Section, Sex Crimes Division, Child Abuse Division and Narcotics Unit, and was recently assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and was a supervisor for many years,” Ogden stated. “John’s vast experience and knowledge in handling investigations is part of our vision of building the most professional team here at the PD. He brings the highest level of experience that this department has seen and a new position. Once John gets settled in, we will be reviewing current and old cases.”

Ogden also said on Facebook that, “John is very excited to be part of our small-town police force. He said that he wanted to finish his career in a small town like [where] he started and ‘getting back into the community where I have the opportunity to get to know everyone and really help people.’”