Suspect bragged of 'hood speed'

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SARASOTA, Fla., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a suspected thief told the arresting deputy he could have outrun him with his "hood speed" if the deputy hadn't been armed.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said a deputy monitoring the Florida Power & Light building after recent burglaries spotted Cornelius McClern, 37, entering through an open door Wednesday night and confronted the suspect, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Friday.

McClern was taken to jail, where he allegedly told the deputy he used the front door because he "was being greedy" and he could have outrun the deputy with his "hood speed" if the deputy had not been armed with a Taser.

McClern, who was charged with burglary of an occupied structure, possession of burglary tools and criminal mischief, has 53 previous felony arrests dating back to 1990, the sheriff's office said.