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Suspects flee scene of attempted burglary
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 10:37 PM EDT
The sheriff said on Sunday just after 5 a.m., deputies were dispatched to a call of a breaking and entering in progress at a vacant residence on Louderback Road near Sardinia. A neighbor told dispatchers she saw three male subjects gaining entry through a back window of the residence and promptly called 911, officials said. When the deputies arrived at the scene, the suspects exited the residence through the same window and ran, according to the sheriff.
One of the suspects was tracked by a K-9 unit and apprehended at a residence on Louderback Road. He was identified as Joshua Mastin, 20, of Mowrystown, Ohio. The other two suspects were tracked by the K-9 unit to Lake Waynoka and were also apprehended, according to the sheriff. The second suspect was identified as Scott Shaffer, 20, of Sardinia, Ohio, while the third suspect was a 16-year-old male, also from the Sardinia area.
The sheriff said the suspects gave statements to the deputies, allegedly admitting they had broken into the residence looking for valuables and copper. The adults were charged with breaking and entering, a fifth degree felony, and transported to the Brown County Adult Detention Center, where they remain awaiting arraignment. The juvenile was released into the custody of his parents. The adults remain in custody at the Detention Center awaiting arraignment on the charges.
According to Chief Deputy John Schadle, Brown County has been having a problem with copper theft, as have surrounding counties. He said many of the thefts occur in vacant houses.
"We usually don't find out about the thefts until after," said Schadle.
Schadle said that the copper thefts involve stripping out plumbing or electrical work.
"After it's taken out of the home, it's hard to identify what home it's been taken from," said Schadle, noting that stolen materials don't have serial or pin numbers for identification. "The best thing for us is to catch them right there in the act like we did."
Schadle said if residents notice something strange they should always call 911 emergency dispatch.
"The neighbors did the right thing and called the police," said Schadle. "Use the powers of observation. Write down the licence number or a description of suspects."
Contact Barbara Goldman at barbara.goldman@lee.net or by calling 606-564-9091, ext. 274.
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