TAVARES, Fla.—The man wanted for a home invasion and zip-tying a victim earlier this month is behind bars.
James Kenneth Rohrer, 28, was taken into custody by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies in the DeLand area of Lake County early Tuesday morning, according to public records.
Rohrer is accused of zip-tying a man and ransacking his home, after his partner in crime, Kayla Louise Berlinski, 31, used a ruse to enter the home of Martin Bottom Jr. on May 12. Bottom Jr. said Berlinski arrived at his home, and he confronted her about a prior theft at his home. Berlinksi, wearing both a jacket and a hat emblazoned with “POLICE” told Bottom Jr. she was a law enforcement officer, and she was going to arrest him for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a probable affidavit states.
Bottom Jr. reached for his phone, and a man, later identified as Rohrer, then entered the victim’s home, took the phone and bound Bottom Jr.’s hands behind his back with zip ties. Berlinksi is accused of emptying the victim’s pockets as Rohrer went through the home and stole multiple items, including a .40 Glock handgun, cash and multiple electronics. Then they fled, leaving Bottom bound in his home.
Berlinski was taken into custody for the crimes May 14, just two hours after Inside Lake published its story on the incident. The pair is facing several serious charges, including armed home invasion, kidnapping, grand theft and grand theft of a firearm. Berlinski is facing an additional charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Rohrer is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond; Berlinski is being held on $40,000 bond.
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