Police investigate pair of crimes

GREENCASTLE -- A robbery and then an attempted burglary took place within a three-hour span early Monday morning.

Both incidents occurred in the city.

Greencastle Police Department Sgt. Eric Vaughan caught one suspect in the attempted burglary, James R. Cole of Greencastle.

Cole, 20, was initially charged with public intoxication, illegal consumption of alcohol, resisting law enforcement and fleeing at the time of his arrest. In Putnam County Circuit Court Tuesday, Cole was charged with Class B felony burglary and Class C felony burglary.

A report from the GPD said units were dispatched to the area of Ohio and Crown streets at 4:23 a.m. Monday, where the sound of breaking glass was reported. A person flagged down Vaughan and advised him he saw two subjects run south from the area.

Vaughan then observed two individuals wearing black clothing including hooded sweatshirts with the hoods pulled over their heads. At that time, Vaughan began a foot pursuit and the individuals split up in the area of Sycamore and Crown streets.

Vaughan caught Cole in that area and arrested him. The other suspect has not been apprehended.

No court dates have yet been set in Cole's case.

Officers later found broken glass at a residence at 809 Crown St., where the suspects entered the house through the back door. However, the resident's dog began barking and the individuals ran from the house without taking anything.

Approximately three hours earlier at 1:17 a.m. Monday, two suspects were reported to possibly be wearing masks and attempting to enter the front doors of the Clark Station, 404 E. Washington St.

Greencastle Police Department Officer Matt Huffman and Vaughan, along with DePauw University Police Officer Brad Williams and Putnam County Sheriff's Department Deputy Virgil Lanning were dispatched to the area.

Officer Williams located two males in the area dressed in black clothing with one male carrying a messenger bag over his shoulder. As he approached them, the males split up and he pursued one down Spring Street, where he lost sight of him.

No suspects have been arrested in that case.