Pinellas Park police said they found him inside a car he stole during the home invasion.

PINELLAS PARK – A transient has been arrested in connection with an early morning home invasion, the Pinellas Park Police Department said.

Joshua Bartle, 44, was charged with one count each of resisting an officer without violence, felon in possession of a firearm, armed burglary, carjacking (with a firearm), robbery (with a firearm), and aggravated assault (with a firearm). Bartle remains in the Pinellas County jail with a bond of $315,150.

Police said Bartle is a career criminal with prior convictions for burglary, dealing in stolen property, armed robbery, armed carjacking, robbery with a firearm, and attempted armed robbery. Bartle was released from prison in 2017 after a 10-year prison sentence for burglary and trafficking in stolen property.

The home invasion happened about 5:50 a.m. Sunday (June 17) at a home in the 9300 block of Mainlands Boulevard. In what police said they believe was a planned burglary, Bartle got into the home by cutting away a screen and unlocking a door.

Once inside, Bartle confronted two of the home’s occupants – a 68-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man – while they were in bed. He pointed a firearm at them and told them that if they gave him money they would not be harmed.

Once he took money from the two, police said, he forced the woman to give him the keys to her 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. Bartle could not use an attached key fob and ordered the woman at gunpoint to unlock and start the car. Bartle then got into the car and fled. Neither the man nor the woman was injured.

Police found Bartle a short while later at the Bayside Inn, 9359 U.S. 19 N, seated inside of the stolen car.

Bartle fled and was caught after a short foot chase.

Police said the loaded gun and money were found at the scene. Both the man and woman positively identified Bartle as the robber.

Pinellas Park Police | Crime | Home Invasion | Mainlands | Arrests | Tampabay News

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