Suspect sprays self with fire extinguiser to elude arrest

A man sprayed himself with a fire extinguisher in an attempt to get away from officers after breaking into a Family Dollar store, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. 

Deputies said witnesses called after hearing the sound of breaking glass and seeing a male running from the Family Dollar store on Northcliffe Boulevard 

When deputies arrived, they found the business' front glass window was broken by a cinder block and the power turned off from the outside of the building.

Additional deputies and a K9 Unit came to search for the suspect. Deputies said they found a large amount of a white powdery substance from a fire extinguisher in an area behind the building. Then they found two spent fire extinguishers they later found belonged to Mariner's Cay apartments.

Tips from bystanders and witnesses helped deputies find the suspect, 18-year-old Anthony Dixon, Jr., who was walking in the area of Hearth Boulevard. They said he had a white powdery substance on his legs.

Dixon later admitted, deputies said, to breaking into the Family Dollar to steal cigarettes, adding he stole the fire extinguishers from the apartment complex and sprayed himself in an attempt to mask his scent from K9 officers.

Dixon was charged with burglary, criminal mischief and grand theft, and taken to Hernando County Detention Center. His bond was set at $11,000.