Jonathan Pearson, invaded a home occupied by four children and a mother and escaped with a handful of cash Saturday

Gun-wielding man who invaded a home occupied by four children and a mother and escaped with a handful of cash Saturday night was arrested this afternoon.Latasha Smith spotted the suspect, Jonathan Pearson, across the street just before noon today and recognized him as her assailant, according to a report from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. She immediately called 911. Deputies responded to 1213 David Drive and took Pearson into custody for questioning. He was then arrested and transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.Saturday's incident happened about 8:30 p.m. at 1212 David Drive. Smith, 29, told sheriff's deputies she was in a bedroom when she heard a crashing noise from the front door. Smith said she ran into the living room to find Preston pointing a gun at her 13-year-daughter, the report states.Preston turned the gun on Smith and demanded money and ordered mother and daughter to get down on the floor, the report states.Smith quickly handed over some money and Preston fled out the front door, the report states.No shots were fired and no one was injured. There were three other children in the home -- a 5-year-old, a 6-year-old, and a 2-month-old.Deputies and officers from the Daytona Beach and Holly Hill police departments, as well as a Sheriff's Office helicopter and a K-9 unit searched for the man without success, according to the report.Smith told investigators that she believed the same man had knocked on her door about two hours earlier and asked for someone who didn't live there. She had not opened the door at that time, only speaking to him through a window in the door. He had apologized for bothering her and left.Just before noon today, Smith saw Pearson across the street and called 911. When deputies spoke with the 24-year-old, he claimed to have never left the previous night but the homeowner he was staying with said Pearson had been gone all night, the report states. Pearson lives in Bunnell but had been staying with a friend at 1213 David Drive.Pearson is charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm, grand theft, two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of aggravated child abuse, and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Investigators are looking for another suspect who had driven Pearson’s getaway vehicle since witnesses reported seeing him get into the passenger side of a car, the report states.

Posted in: Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach