Published: July 17, 2008 11:28 pm      

Juvenile arrested twice in burglary of towing company

A 17-year-old male juvenile was arrested twice Tuesday in connection with a break-in at a Richmond automobile towing company.

Richmond Police responded to David’s Towing Service, 217 E. Irvine St., at 6:47 a.m. to investigate a reported burglary of the business.

“An investigation revealed that during the overnight hours an intruder had broken a window and unlawfully entered the business,” a RPD press release states. “The intruder rummaged through the building and made off with an undetermined amount of cash.”

RPD Office Kelly Rouse, who investigated the case, recalled that earlier in the morning about 2:30 a.m., another officer had encountered a juvenile male walking on West Irvine Street approximately four blocks from David’s Towing.

“The juvenile was dirty, sweating heavily and appeared nervous when questioned by the officer,” the release states. “As the officer was interviewing the juvenile, he abruptly fled on foot from the officers and disobeyed commands to stop.”

When someone flees from police, officers have no way of knowing the reason, said Sgt. Willard Reardon, public affairs officer for the Richmond Police Department

“More than likely something has happened and they’ve committed some crime,” he said. “A normal citizen isn’t going to run from the police if they’re stopped. Most will be cooperative.”

The officers were familiar with the male juvenile and proceeded to his girlfriend’s house in the area of West Main Street where they located him hiding in the residence.

“He was hiding under the kitchen sink,” Reardon said.

The juvenile was taken into custody and charged with second-degree fleeing or evading police.

He then was released to an adult designated by the suspect’s parent.

Officer Rouse later linked physical evidence from the juvenile to evidence found at the burglary crime scene.

Police again located the suspect at his girlfriend’s residence and took him to the Richmond Police Department.

After being interviewed, the juvenile was charged for third-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools in connection with the break-in at David’s Towing.

Officers also recovered an undisclosed amount of money that was stolen during the break-in.

The juvenile was lodged in the Fayette County Juvenile Detention Center.