Sheriff Seeking Information on Recent Burglaries

MEIGS COUNTY – The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office is investigating several area burglaries.
Sheriff Keith Wood reports that on September 22, 2015, his office received a phone call of a burglary in progress on Townsend Road in Scipio Township. Deputies responded to the Stanley residence as a neighbor had observed a suspicious vehicle in the area driving by their residence several times. Shortly afterward, the car was observed pulled over to the side of the road with the trunk open. When the neighbor inquired as to what the male subject was doing he stated that he was checking on his tires and that is when the neighbor decided to take photos of the vehicle before the male subject started to leave the area when someone yelled from the woods. At that time, Dorothy Morgan, age 29 from Albany, came out of the woods stating that she had been to Ed Stanley’s residence to retrieve a title. At that time the male subject in the car, Ricky Gibbs, age 45 from Middleport came back and picked up Dorothy and left. The neighbor went to Ed Stanley’s residence and made contact with Ed about what was happening and that is when Ed found he had two firearms stolen from his residence and officers returned those firearms to Stanley. Upon checking the place where Dorothy Morgan came out of the woods, Stanley’s two firearm were located.

Deputy Jeff Perry was able to locate and interview Dorothy Morgan a few days later and obtained a confession from Morgan pertaining to the burglary of Stanley’s residence. This case will be submitted to the Meigs County Prosecutor’s Office for Grand Jury consideration.

Sheriff Wood also reports that several burglaries have been occurring around the Tuppers Plains, Chester and Racine areas of the county.

On Aug. 25, 2015, a Burglary was reported on SR 248, Long Bottom, by Joan Powers. While away from their residence, unknown subjects entered through a rear window and stole firearms, coins, jewelry, camping chairs, extension cords, carpenter levels and a trail camera.

On Sept. 1, 2015, Kathleen Miller reported her residence on SR 7, Reedsville, had been broken into during the day. Suspects had busted a window out and entered the residence. Items stolen were firearms, Crossbow, and jewelry. An arrow was found along the wood line but nothing else was found.

On Sept. 9, 2015, Deputies responded to Locust Grove Road, Long Bottom, to the Ken Ritchie residence on another burglary. While away during the day for a few hours and upon returned, Ritchie found that unknown subjects had entered his residence and on a bedroom floor he found a pillow without the pillow case on the floor along with jewelry boxes, a bow case and bow lying on the floor. Ritchie waited for deputies to arrive and the K9 was called to possibly pick up a track as deputies believed that Ritchie may have come home while the subjects were still in his residence and subjects fled, leaving those items on the floor. Upon further inspection, Ritchie also found cash missing from the residence. Deputies learned that a neighbor was in the area and observed a silver Pontiac Grand Am or Pontiac Grand Prix pulling out of Ritchie’s driveway with a female with blonde hair. The witness stated that the female drove away toward SR 7 acting suspiciously.

On Sept. 18, 2015, deputies received a report from Shirley Hawk on Kaylor Road in Reedsville that her residence had been broken into sometime that morning. Items stolen were a television, firearms, coins, jewelry and a camera. Deputy’s report that this burglary was similar to others in the area as a pillow case was missing from the house too.

On Sept. 20, 2015, Gordon Hellwig of SR 7, Reedsville, had his residence broken into that morning while they were at church. Subjects broke in through a rear window and stole several items including a firearm with holster, coins, knives, jewelry, and personal papers and a pillow case. Deputies attempted to dust for fingerprints but were unable to obtain any useful prints. Deputies made contact with some neighbors but none seen anything suspicious at the time.

On Sept. 23, 2015, deputies received a burglary call from Michelle Varney of SR 681, Reedsville. Varney reported that Jason Carleton was mowing at Varney’s residence when he observed the front door open and a back window open with the screen on the ground. Deputies arrived and found several items that are missing including firearms, jewelry, lap top computer and coins along with a pillow case that was possibly used to carry the items out. Deputies talked with neighbors who observed a silver Pontiac with a blonde female driver in the area driving by several times. Items were dusted for possible prints.

On Sept. 24, 2015, the sheriff’s office receive a call from Connie Little on Pleasant View road, Racine that her house had been broken into sometime between 11:30am to 4:30pm. Little advised that the garage walk through door was open and the door leading into the house was open. Upon arrival, deputies found that the door to the living area from the garage had been pried open to gain entry into the residence. Stolen from the residence was firearms, a flat screen television, coins, jewelry, tools and a caddy bag. Deputies learned from Little that a neighbor was able to get a video of the suspect’s vehicle, which is a silver Pontiac Grand Prix 4 door with a blonde female and a dark hair male subject. The vehicle did not have a front license plate and appears to have a sunroof. This video was taken to the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Investigative unit to attempt to get a license plate number off the vehicle. (See attached photo)

On this same day, a burglary was reported by Debbie Bradford from McKenzie Ridge Road, Racine. Bradford reported that sometime between 8:50am and 7:00 pm, unknown subjects broken into her residence through the kitchen window and ransacked her house, stealing a laptop computer, a bow, jewelry, firearm, tools and a hunting blind. Deputies talked with neighbors who describe seeing a silver Pontiac with a blonde female driver in the area driving by several times.

Sheriff Wood request that if anyone has any information concerning these burglaries to contact his office.