Sheriff’s Department makes second arrest in church burglaries

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Jacob W. Metz

Jacob W. Metz

The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department arrested another suspect for the Pine Grover Baptist Church burglary that took place in January.

Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said Jacob W. Metz, 20, of 20 Callias Lane in Picayune was arrested on March 21 on one count of burglary.

Through their investigation, the sheriff’s department was able to recover evidence and collect statements regarding Metz’s involvement with the Pine Grove Baptist Church burglary, Tucker said.

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Tucker said Metz’s arrest stems from the Feb. 20 arrest of Blake Miley, 18, of 5 Magnolia Drive in Carriere.

Miley was arrested for three counts of burglary of a church, Tucker said.

According to a previous story in the Item, the department’s investigation determined Miley was seen at the location of one of the burglaries around the time the crime occurred. Miley was later found to be in possession of a safe stolen during one of the burglaries and denominations of currency consistent with the amount reported stolen, Tucker said.

The sheriff’s department responded to the burglary at Pine Grove Baptist Church on Jan. 31 at 8:20 a.m.

The doors of the church had been pried open and the church offices had been rummaged through, the previous story states.

Tucker said additional arrests might be forthcoming as a result of the ongoing investigation.

Metz was out on bond when he committed the burglary, Tucker said, therefore his bond was revoked.

Metz was also recently indicted for conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance, Tucker said.