Couple Left Teen on Side of Road with Bag of Guns: Cops

It's just a strange thing. All right. It's a strange thing. I know you don't. want to get in trouble, but this this whole thing just is very. very suspicious. You understand, >> bro? What kind of would do that? You. give a 16-year-old two guns and walk. side of the highway. >> Police in Florida got a bizarre call. back in October. [music] A teenager was. spotted walking by himself along the. side of I75. But when a detective. stopped him to see what was going on, he. ended up with a lot more questions than.

answers. We now have newly released body. [music] cam footage that reveals how. some sort of religious premonition, an. abandoned [music] teen, and bags with. guns inside, how they're all connected. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and. Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. By the way, as we're covering a story. like this, I got to say staying on top. of the news is so important for everyone. out there. But the problem is with all. the media bias these days, who knows. what to believe, right? That's why I. want to introduce you to our sponsor,

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the drama, you get the facts. Welcome. back to trustworthy journalism. Well, this is certainly a strange story to say. the least. We go to October 1st and a. detective was dispatched to try to. contact a young man who was walking. along the side of I75. This is an. incredibly busy interstate in the. Northport area in Florida. So, the. officer pulls over onto the grassy. shoulder, tries to talk to this male. subject, who we now know is a. 16-year-old who lives several miles away. from where he's now walking. And as the. trucks and the vehicles they whiz past.

pass, remember this is a busy. interstate, it can be kind of hard to. hear the teen's answers to many of the. officers questions, but nonetheless, he. soon learns that this boy had been told. to get out of an SUV by his parents and. essentially fend for himself. >> Hey, what's up, man? What's going on? >> On the highway.com. >> Yeah, let's let's talk over here. It's.

>> Well, how old are you? >> 16. >> You're 16? >> Yes. >> What happened? Why are you walking down. the highway? >> So, basically, so it's a he's a good he's a believer in. God right now. >> He's a what? >> Believer in God. Yeah. >> A believer in God. >> Yes. >> And. >> he had this vision of that. >> You're supposed to go outside. >> Then I didn't want to go. So. >> he had visions of what? >> You're going to have to talk to him.

>> I I'm Before I talk to him, I will, but. I want to know why. What happened? Like, so don't. >> He wasn't He wasn't at. >> Well, was he in the Were you in the car. with him? >> And what? He pulled over and told you to. get out. No, I. >> you you elected to get out of the car. >> Okay. >> Where's he now? I'm. >> all right. Do you have ID on you or do. you have any.

>> All right. I'm I can't let you walk. I'll give you a ride. So, how how did. you end up here? You're 16. They just. You asked to get out of the car. They. pulled over and let you out. Cuz um test. >> cuz what? >> A test. >> A test. >> Yeah, I don't get it. I get it sometime. that stuff, but you don't have to. >> What do you What do you mean by a test. though? >> Um if you ever like have a fit for like. tests, tribulations,

>> I don't. ride. >> I'll give you a ride. Yeah. So, listen. Hold on. Before we go anywhere, you do. understand like where you're 16 years. old. >> You're walking on the side of the. highway. >> I know. >> Okay. Why? Like I don't understand like. what you're saying about this test like. put you up to this or. >> I was basically us. with him.

I chose to go. >> And where was he going? He was him and. uh. going through um I don't know they. didn't b. what's going what's going on with this. man you understand how this sounds right. like. >> I know how it looks. >> and how it looks and how it sound is. there like. >> they didn't well they didn't you per se.

but you're 16 years old okay you they. left you on the side of the road to. walk. It's dangerous. It's illegal. You. can't do it. >> Uh you're not in trouble or anything. You know, you're you're a juvenile. Like. people are cold and concerned. Like it's. all I trying to figure out like what why. would do this is what I'm trying to get. at. Like I don't understand the. rationale where they would willingly. pull the car off to the side of the road. and let you out. Where did they go? >> They gave me everything. >> But where did they go? Like.

>> they didn't tell me. It would be fun. >> And this is where you live currently. >> All right. All right. Before listen, I'm. I'll put you in the back. I'll let you. sit in the back. I'll give you a ride. >> I have a friend that also have an uncle. >> that lives in or in another in somewhere. elsewhere else. >> In Northport? >> Yeah. >> Where at? >> I have a friend. You want me to drop. there too? >> One thing at a time. One thing at a. time. Let me first. Do you have anything. else on you? Don't reach. >> I have a phone.

You have no weapons or nothing like. that, right? >> Just turn around. >> All right. All right. Do me a favor. You. can sit in the back seat. The air. conditioning. >> You need to check this too. >> What for? >> Like anything. [sighs]. >> Yeah. No, I mean, unless you have. something in there you're not supposed. to have. Yeah. >> I'm more It's more for weapons. You're. not in trouble. All right. It's my first. time being in jail.

>> Just make sure you put the seatelt on. All right. I'm going to take your bags. and stuff and put them in the back. All. right. >> Now, while the team sits in the back of. the patrol car, the officer quickly goes. through the two bags that he's carrying. And it turns out there is a gun in each. one of them. >> Why dad leave you with two guns? >> Well, just in case something. defense basically. So, >> let's walk through this story.

>> Okay. I'm not trying to get you in. trouble. All right. >> It's just a strange thing. All right. It's a strange thing. And. >> so, basically, I like you see the the. bridge the bridge over there. >> Yeah. >> I basically dropped over the bridge. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, so Okay. Up there by like um. what's like Pon Deon or whatever that. >> I know I know the bridge you're talking. about. So he drops you off there. >> What does he say?

>> He tells me that he loves me and he says. you were the chosen one or something. And then he tells me um you you're the. one that. while. >> he's gone. >> Yeah. And then he's going to come back. But. >> that's all he says that he um he makes. he makes. >> All right. Give me give me a minute. Just hang out. You guys good? The air. conditioning all right back there? All. right, just hang tight. Watch your foot. there. >> Okay. Naturally, the detective then.

tries to get in touch with the teen's. parents, 36-year-old Bradley Leon. Guerrero Santos and 35-year-old. Rosanella Mandola Borha. According to. Northport police, they and the teen were. in a 4ERunner. This was along with an. 8-year-old sibling, by the way. And this. is when Santos allegedly pulled over, gave him some cash, the guns, extra. ammunition, and sent him on his own on. the side of the interstate. Now, unfortunately, when the officer calls. the numbers that the teen has for his. parents, he gets nowhere.

>> Hi, Mr. Santos. >> Oh. Oh, okay. Do you know Bradley? >> Okay, sorry. >> Hi, my name is Detective Msina with the. Northport Police Department. Hello. Hello. Hi. Is this Rosanella? Hello.

I know the audio is a little hard to. hear, but the detective first calls the. number for Santos, and the person who. answers tells him his name is Jose. Doesn't know a Bradley. Then he tries to. call Borha. Someone answers, doesn't. respond after he says his name, hangs. up. The detective later wrote in his. report that he was able to later confirm. with a family member that that was in. fact Santos's number. And as the patrol. car heads towards the teen's home, the. detective calls another officer to talk. out what he knows so far. >> This is uh weird.

>> So, kid is 16 years old. All right. He's. walking. He's got a he's got a duffel. bag with one pistol on him, another one. with another pistol um fanny pack. Um. he's, you know, they're both clear. He's. got a concealed carry permit on him, but. the story he's given me is that he it. sounds like he's single 20. Um like. religious fanatic mentioned something.

today about having some sort of. premonition about going back home. I. keep asking him like what does home. mean? Because home is. too. Um but he's like no like he's from. Guam or whatever. So he thinks he is. referring to Guam going back to Guam. So. they get in the car. and him and they start driving on the. highway and you know kid's kind of being. dodgy you know doesn't want to get in.

trouble but basically told you he didn't. want to go. pulled the car over and told him get out. apparently gave him the two guns uh gave. him some cash. uh you know he's got the concealed carry. permit and he was going to walk back. I mean, it's extremely weird. I, you. know, I tried to call. um they're not answering for me. They're. they're hanging up. I got the first the.

the mom, she was like, "Hello." And then. I said, you know, it's Detective Msina, whatever. And then she just hung up and. then not answering. So, I I mean, I. asked, he said, "No." He said, you know, neighbors, um, you know, you can like. talk to and maybe stay with them or. whatever. But, I mean, the whole thing. is he's 16. He's got two guns. Can't get. a hold. And it's like, am I going to. these two guns back and just put him. back at 16? And.

>> you know what I mean? Like, that's just. >> Yeah. Yeah. He's in the he's in the back. of my car. He's not going anywhere. So, according to the body cam footage and. the affidavit for Santos arrest, the. teen told the officer that his dad, Santos, had talked about wanting to move. to either Guam or Idaho. And in a. redacted affidavit, the detective. writes, quote, "The teen told me Bradley. had been acting erratically lately and. has been dealing with personal issues.

The teen told me that Bradley did not. inform him of the trip until today when. he got home from school. Furthermore, Bradley told the teen to walk the dog. before they leave. After returning from. walking his dog, the teen stated that. Rosanella and Bradley were frantically. throwing clothes into two duffel bags. and ushered the children into the. vehicle. They then departed the. residence without any defined. destination or explanation. The teen. reportedly told the detective that he. expressed to Santos that he didn't want. to leave and that is when allegedly. Santos pulled over to the side of I75,

gave him two bags containing the. pistols, the cash, the ammunition, and. had him get on the shoulder of the. highway. And when you go back to the. affidavit, it reads, "Bradley told him. to take care of the house before driving. away." The teen told me that Bradley is. very religious and frequently tests his. mental fortitude by giving him difficult. tasks such as this. Upon kicking him out. of the vehicle, Bradley referred to the. teen as the chosen one. The teen advised. that Bradley and Rosanella then abandon. him on the interstate and proceeded to. drive away with no signs of return. His.

cell phone subsequently died during the. beginning stages of the investigation, leaving him with no viable means to. contact help. Incredibly scary situation. based on these allegations. Right. So, as the detective arrives at the family's. home and meets up with another officer, he assures the teen that he's not in. trouble, that he didn't do anything. wrong. They just need to figure out. exactly what is going on here. >> Look, man. Um, we're going over to Okay. Again, you're not in trouble at all. All.

right. No, >> it's I I know you don't want to get in. trouble, but this this whole thing just. is very very suspicious. You understand. how it looks to me as a cop? >> You you would agree with that, right? >> Yes. >> You know, I'm not trying to like trick. you or try to trick you into getting in. trouble. I don't care about that. I just. want to know like what you're telling me. is the truth, right? Like what what.

>> I can't hear you. >> Um. well, listen, you what you told me is. the truth. >> Okay? There's no. other story that you know you didn't. take guns or anything like that. Okay. All right. Is this the first time this has ever. happened?

Do. >> I have to go to school tomorrow? >> I didn't hear what? >> No. No. I asked you, is this the first. time this ever happened? >> Yes. >> Now, as the detective and the sergeant. approached the home, it becomes. immediately clear that the family left. in a hurry. Because according to the. affidavit, it reads, "Upon transporting. the teen back to his residence, the. garage door to the residence was. observed to be open, exposing the. interior of the garage as well as the. front door to the residence being left. wide open as if the family left in an. abrupt hurry with no regard for their.

personal belongings." He left the garage. like this. >> He said that whoever it takes takes. >> All right, just hang out for a second. All right, >> garage is wide open. Front door is wide. open. >> Dude, this is so weird. I start seeing. the guns. I'm like, "What the is going. on?" 16-year-old.

vehicle comes back to a Bradley Leoner. Santos of the 1421 lane. Also, a bird is. addressed at Northport. Bro, what kind of to do that? Give you. give a [clears throat] 16-year-old two. guns and boy side of the highway.

Apparently in June, Joby had a call with. the dad. He [snorts] got wasted at. Waffle House. >> Yeah, I read. the one in the car.

>> [snorts]. >> Let me uh make a call. >> So, it's obviously illegal to furnish.

juvenile. >> with a firearms. >> Yeah. >> Like unless they're engaged in that kind. of shit. >> Yeah. >> And then I get it. He's 16, but like. he's still a child. Like you can't kid. on the side of 75. That's. >> it's a limited access roadway. He can't. walk on it and you should know that. Like. >> this is. >> He kept trying to walk away. I'm like, "No, no, no. Like we're we're dealing. with this." Like, "No, it's done.". >> I didn't think anything of it when you. were running the guns.

>> Yeah. >> Like, "All right, like some guy's car. broke down. You don't leave guns." And. then when you're like, "I'm 104 with a. juvenile." Like. >> I was getting ready to call you and I. picked my work phone up and saw you and. called me and I'm like, "All right, we. this is something." Yeah, it's it's. weird. That's why I called. I'm like, I. don't know how you want to handle this. I'm sorry. Just talking trying to get as. much info. >> Yeah. Out of him. >> Basically, he's saying he was just. telling me I don't know how much Brett. told you, but he's just saying too he. lost lost his job or he quit recently. It seems like he's going through like.

some sort of Yeah. So, >> he was an H track guy. He said he. resigned on his own. Didn't quit. He. said sound something like he was tired. of working for like criminals and you. know something like that. And. >> he said. basically sounds like a religious. fanatic like. >> that he he said it's all it's all kind. of linked. He's like embarrassed. He's. kind of doesn't want to like say it but. like that's kind of what he's getting at. is every all this behavior is linked to.

that. So, >> Northport police reported that there was. no evidence of foul play at the home, but that the inside the inside of that. home disaster. It was cluttered. It was. in disarray. And there were guns laying. out in the open. So, officers, they. tried repeatedly to get in touch with. the parents, Santos Borha, by phone. But. eventually, they were able to track. Santos's phone, according to the. affidavit, to an address in Wakula, Florida. It's over an hour away. Northport PD. They coordinated with the.

department there who found the 4Erunner. in a parking lot. And both Santos and. Borha were arrested. This is around 4. and a half hours after they allegedly. left their teenage son on the side of. that interstate. And per Sarasota County. court records, Santos was arrested on. two thirdderee felony charges, contributing to the delinquency of a. minor by allowing them to possess a. firearm and neglect of a child without. great bodily harm. Borha faces one count. of neglect of a child without great. bodily harm herself. They were each. given a $500,000 bond. They are. scheduled to be formally arraigned on.

November 26th. And at the time of this. recording on Monday, they are both still. behind bars. And that's all we have for. you right now here on Sidebar. Everybody, thank you so much for joining. us. And as always, please subscribe on. YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should get your podcasts. You can follow me on X or Instagram. I'm. Jesse Weber. I'll speak to you next. time.