Burglaries lead to two arrests
Published 4:00 am Thursday, July 16, 2015
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with a string of burglaries that occurred across multiple counties.
Dominic Parker, 18, of Goshen, and Arthur Lenard Wilson, 31, whose last known address was Troy, were arrested July 10 in Florida.
Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said the department had initiated an investigation in reference to several stolen vehicles from not only Pike County but also Coffee County.
“We had vehicles stolen in several different jurisdictions including ours, Brundidge Police Department’s and Coffee County Sheriff’s Department,” Thomas said. “The first vehicle reported stolen was a 2004 Cheverolet Duramax pickup stolen out of Brundidge, which was recovered. We also took a report on an older model Acura Legend, which was also recovered.”
Thomas said Parker and Wilson were identified as suspects in the case in relation to several other cases related to theft and burglaries, including a burglary, which occurred at Slow Country Saloon on U.S. Highway 231 South in Brundidge on June 25.
“A large amount of alcohol products, including liquor and beer, were taken as well as cash money,” Thomas said. “We also took a report on June 29 of a meter being taken off of the side of a house as well as some items from inside the home located on County Road 4425 in Brundidge.”
Thomas said investigators also located a third vehicle that had been stolen from Car City on U.S. Highway 231 in Coffee County.
“It was there at the residence,” Thomas said. “It had been spray painted black. Investigators also recovered beer, liquor, cash and the DVR player that was also taken from the saloon.”
Thomas said investigators also recovered property linking the pair to the burglary, which occurred on County Road 4425. After the recovery of the items, Thomas said warrants were obtained for the pair’s arrest, but while attempting to locate the individuals they fled the area.
“We entered their information in to the National Crime Information Center, and we were told they had gone to Florida possibly with a relative,” Thomas said. “They in fact had broken into a pharmacy in Leesburg, just north of Orlando.”
Thomas said the sheriff’s department worked with the Leesburg Police Department and investigators traveled to Florida Tuesday to interview Parker and Wilson. The case is still under investigation, and Thomas said the pair could be implicated in other burglary-related cases.
“We’ve taken reports of a John Deere Gator stolen out of Coffee County just across the Pike County line,” Thomas said. “They are being considered strong suspects in this case and possibly some others.”
Several agencies came together during the course of the investigation and Brundidge Police Chief Moses Davenport thanked the agencies for their cooperation and help during the course of the investigation.
“We are definitely grateful for the help from the sheriff’s department and the Coffee County Sheriff Department,” Davenport said. “Most people would say it’s luck, but I would say it’s a blessing to apprehend these people. It’s a relief to a lot of our citizens here and a relief to law enforcement agencies in Pike County. It’s our job to prevent crime, but once we are unable to prevent the crime then our job turns into solving it. It is such a good thing when we are able to do that.”
Thomas asks that anyone with information related to the burglaries to contact the sheriff department at 566-4347.