Vehicle Burglaries Investigation

Date: May 21, 2022

Case Number: 2022-004124

At approximately 4:05 AM, officers responded to the 5100 block of Riverfront Drive E, located in the Carlton Arms of Bradenton apartment complex, for a report of vehicle burglaries. Investigating officers located two males, matching the descriptions of the suspects, hiding on the porch of an apartment and attempted to detain them.

Khalil D. Brown, DOB 5/30/2003, was taken into custody without incident and charged with burglary to an occupied structure. The second suspect, Taivon J. Saunders, DOB 2/7/2003, fled from officers, jumped a fence, and ran down an embankment into a pond located within the apartment complex. Saunders refused to return to the officers, and a short time later, he went under and did not resurface. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office Dive Team responded and located Saunders, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The dive team also recovered a backpack.

The District 12 Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.

This is still an active investigation.

If anyone has any information on this case, please contact Detective Carl Jones at 941-932-9334. You may also email information to BPDTips@BradentonPD.com. To remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000, call Crime Stoppers (toll-free) at 1-866-634-8477 (TIPS) or send an E-Tip at manateecrimestoppers.com.