On April 28th, 2025, at approximately 10:30pm, Naples Police received a 9-1-1 call from a resident off Central Avenue in reference to a burglary in progress. The homeowner caught an individual trying to gain access to his residence via a balcony door. The homeowner stated the suspect was wearing a read hoodie and jeans, and when confronted, the suspect fled down the stairs, jumped on a dark colored bike and took off. While establishing a perimeter, the Sergeant on duty located a male matching the suspect’s description, later identified as Damien Watkins of Groveland, FL, at the intersection of 5th Ave. S and 5th St. S, which is only four blocks away from the crime scene. A struggled ensued when the Sergeant attempted to detain Watkins, but back-up officers answered the Sergeant’s radio transmissions for help and assisted with the arrest. The victim positively identified Watkins as the individual he confronted at his balcony door.

Watkins was also found in possession of marijuana and oxycodone. He was transported to the Naples Jail Center and charged with Occupied Burglary to a Dwelling, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana under 20 grams. Watkins was previously already out on bond conditions for a February 2025 arrest where he was found unlawfully inside a home under construction in Golden Gate City.