09.21
Update on the One-Eleven break-in. Store was closed Wednesday and Thursday, costing them 2 days of sales (plus staff two days pay.) The suspect, Casey Darling, allegedly stole about $27 of change plus $100 from donation buckets, plus a cash register – and did about $20,000 in damage. Suspect was found through “an anonymous tip” which is usually how LPD finds people.
One news report initially said the owner, Mike Lovelady, saw two burglars on the security video but the statement was later scrubbed from articles and Mr. Lovelady hasn’t verified if he said that or not. The Messenger piece says “Authorities looked at the video further and authenticated that only one person broke into the restaurant.” Officers did admit talking to another suspect who could not be connected or pushed into confessing.
Casey Darling, the one suspect ID’d, has been charged with Burglary, Financial Transaction Card Theft, and Theft of Lost or Mislaid Property. Apparently the $27 in change plus donation bucket funds (which ranged from $15 to $100 depending on who you ask) wasn’t his main target if he also swiped store credit cards or credit information belonging to customers.
Reports earlier in the week said Mr. Darling lives at the Morgan Motel where he was arrested, but the Walker Co Jail booking report gives Mr. Darling’s address as the 2nd Street home of City Manager Frank Etheridge. Darling lived with the Etheridges for a time since Darling and the City Manager’s son are (or were) reportedly friends. There’s no indication that anyone suspects the younger Mr. Etheridge of being involved.
In possibly related burglary news…
- WQCH Radio, 09/20/2012: “BURGLARS BROKE IN TO THE LAFAYETTE CHURCH OF CHRIST AFTER WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICES, ACCORDING TO THE MINISTER THERE. AARON POPE SAID TELEVISIONS AND COMPUTERS WERE ALL LEFT IN PLACE AND 40 TO 50-DOLLARS IN CASH WAS THE ONLY THING MISSING.
- “THE MINISTER SAID POLICE TOLD HIM THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS, WITH ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS OF CASH MISSING IN BREAK-INS. THE CHURCH BUILDING IS AT THE CORNER OF WEST MAIN AND CHEROKEE STREETS.”
Seems to be very similar to the One Eleven robbery, but Mr. Darling was in jail Wednesday night.
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