The Panama City Police Department announces the arrest of Michael E. Ward, 33 years of age. Ward was arrested at approximately 2:15 a.m., on July 17, 2012, for one count of burglary.

The Panama City Police Department responded to an alarm call at Sommers Sound Systems located at 4018 W. Highway 98 in Panama City. Officers responding to the business found a window that was shattered and signs that someone had entered the business.

Officers viewed the surveillance video with employees who responded to the scene. On the video a male was observed entering the broken window and taking new stereo amplifiers that were packaged in cardboard boxes from the business.

The employee said he recognized the male and believed the male lived nearby. Officers searching the area located a male who matched the one in the video near an apartment in the 1800 block of Grant Avenue.

Officers were able to locate empty cardboard boxes that held the stereo equipment in a ditch behind the apartment. The unpackaged
stereo equipment was located inside Ward’s apartment.

Ward was arrested and booked into the Bay County Jail charged with burglary.