Published: July 02, 2009 08:21 am      

Three arrested for burglary

PICAYUNE — A community tip brought about the arrest of three young men, one of which is charged as an adult. All were charged with commercial burglary.

Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier said 17 year-old Ashton Campbell of 1349 McNeill Henleyfield Rd. is being charged as an adult due to the felony nature of the crime. The department also arrested two 16 year-old juveniles. All three were charged with four counts of commercial burglary.

The department got a tip about some suspicious activity Wednesday concerning a group of young men riding around the Stone Hollow Trace subdivision. Witnesses said the boys would ride to an area near the edge of the woods, get out of the car and then reenter the car. Deputy Daniel Quave was sent out to the area and once there saw the car in question. Quave conducted a stop on the vehicle and called for an investigator. He also checked the three areas where the suspects were described to enter the woods. In those areas he found stashes of stolen property, Saucier said.

Investigator Shane Edgar responded to Quave’s request and checked the stolen property. Some of the property had identifying marks on it, which helped him locate the owners. As the investigators worked the case one owner stopped to see what was going on and was able to identify some of the property as his own, Saucier said.

Saucier said about 95 percent of the stolen property has been returned to the rightful owner. Allegedly the property was stolen from four locations in the subdivision consisting of sheds and garages. Firearms were also stolen from some of those locations. The firearms were found at a location in Poplarville. The location of the remaining stolen property is still under investigation.

Saucier said this is a perfect example of how community involvement enables the department to solve cases like these in a quick and effective manner.