A Florida man arrested earlier this month recently faced additional criminal charges after his cell phone search history linked him to seven church robberies, police said.
Pensacola Police arrested Jeremy Lang, 20, on Oct. 14 after they said he matched the description of a robbery seen on surveillance footage from the previous week. According to an arrest report obtained by USA TODAY, responding officers were searching Lang and found a bag of marijuana, a loaded stolen firearm, an orange hammer, a “window-breaking tool,” and black gloves. , a coat hanger with a metal tip, and an iPhone.
Lang was subsequently booked into the Escambia County Jail and charged with robbery, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, providing a false name to law enforcement, carrying a concealed firearm while under 21, and possession of a firearm by a convicted delinquent. He was charged with possession. Inmate and court records reveal a number of burglary tools.
Police have identified Lang and linked him to at least seven church robberies between September 24 and October 12. One of the incidents occurred on October 1st, when $20 in cash was stolen from the church, and the other incident occurred on October 6th. According to the arrest report, the pastor’s office was ransacked and a mason jar containing coins was taken.
The robberies Lang is accused of resulted in damages ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, according to the report. The Oct. 11 robbery caused $2,250 worth of property damage to the church, according to police documents.
iPhone search history:Pensacola man suspected of church robbery: ‘Where is church money kept?’
Jeremy Lang’s iPhone provides ‘incriminating evidence’
Police accessed Lang’s iPhone after his arrest, and investigators found “evidence of the crime” on the device, according to the arrest report.
Lang’s Safari search history included searches like this:
- “How to make a ninja mask by cutting a shirt”
- “Nike Ski Mask Formula”
- “Nearby Community Bible Study Group”
- “Where does the church keep its money?”
- “Does the church have a safe?”
- “Which companies keep cash internally?”
- “How to make quick money with illegal Reddit”
- Broad search for “churches near me”
What’s next for Jeremy Lang?
Lang pleaded not guilty Wednesday and is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 15.
As of Thursday, Lang remained in Escambia County Jail on $270,000 bail, according to inmate records.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Please contact JLimehouse@gannett.com..
