Man charged in Reelsville burglary

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Charges were filed against a Rockville man Monday on connection with a Nov. 18 burglary that took place in Reelsville.

Derrick K. Westbrook, 30, has been charged with class B felony burglary and Class D felony theft.

According to court documents, Putnam County Sheriff's Department Deputy Adam Hull was dispatched to investigate a reported burglary and theft at a residence in Reelsville on the afternoon of Nov. 18. The property owner "informed me that he was missing a large gun case, ammunition and several guns," Hull wrote in his report.

A neighbor told Hull he had seen a pickup truck in the victim's driveway on the day the robbery was alleged to have occurred. The neighbor said the truck left the victim's home about a half-hour later. The neighbor was able to give a description of the truck, but not of the driver, and also could not tell how many people were in the truck, court documents said.

The alleged victim told Hull the description of the truck the neighbor gave fit a vehicle owned by Westbrook, a friend of his wife's brother.

"Derrick has been to the (victim's) residence in the past and is aware of the gun safe," Hull's report said. "I observed that the residence had not been ransacked and nothing was missing except for the guns and gun safe. The burglary had the appearance that the guns were the specific target."

On Nov. 20, Hull interviewed a co-worker at Westbrook's place of employment. The co-worker said she had overheard Westbrook say "I got all kinds of guns for sale if anybody wants any."

On Nov. 21, police secured a search warrant for Westbrook's home. According to Hull's report, numerous items were found at Westbrook's residence that were positively identified by the alleged victim as the property that had been taken from his residence.

Westbrook has no prior criminal record in Putnam County, but he has spent time in jail in Wayne County for criminal mischief and operating while intoxicated.

Class B felonies are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, Class D felonies by a maximum of three years.

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  • thief

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts=idiot on Sat, Nov 29, 2008, at 10:19 AM
  • Soon to be starring on a "worlds not so slickest criminals" episode.

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Mon, Dec 1, 2008, at 6:45 PM
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