The Gulf Shores Police Department worked in partnership with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, in Florida, to identify, charge and arrest Erick D’Andre Smith Jr. of Pensacola, Florida, for his participation in two crime sprees in Gulf Shores. Police are still working to identify and locate others involved.

Police received multiple reports of vehicle break-ins in several neighborhoods along Cotton Creek Drive June 23, 2021. Using residential surveillance video, detectives were able to identify the suspect vehicle as a Jeep Grand Cherokee that had been reported stolen from another jurisdiction. The vehicle was found a short time later abandoned at an apartment complex in Pensacola, Florida. Evidence recovered linked the vehicle to the crimes in Gulf Shores and a person of interest was identified thanks to evidence recovered near a residence on Gainswood Court in Pensacola, Florida.

Gulf Shores Police and the Escambia County Sherriff’s continued to work parallel investigations into the reported crimes and recovered stolen vehicle.

On Sept. 15, 2021, Gulf Shores Police received reports of multiple vehicle break-ins along Regency Road and East 1^st Street. A witness provided detectives with a description of a black Nissan four-door sedan he observed leaving the complex occupied with three black males.

The similarities between the two events led Gulf Shores detectives to send a request to the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office to check the apartment complex where the stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee was recovered in June. The stolen black Nisson Altima was recovered. The evidence recovered linked the vehicle to the break-ins in Gulf Shores. Surveillance video was located documenting the three suspects possessing the stolen vehicle in Gulf Shores and Pensacola, Florida.

The investigation into both incidents led to the positive identification of 21-year-old Smith of Pensacola, Florida. On Oct. 12, the Gulf Shores Magistrate issued warrants for Smith that include 14 counts of unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle, five counts of theft of property in the second degree, one count of theft of property in the third degree and 11 counts of theft of property in the fourth degree.

Smith is currently in custody on charges filed in Florida. The investigation into these crimes continues in hopes of identifying and locating others involved. If you have any information relating to these incidents, please contact Det. Mike Hoguet at (251) 968-9841.