Police have taken into custody a 16-year-old in connection with 19 business burglaries in Indianapolis, as well as a 14-year-old and three adults on weapons charges.
The 16-year-old suspect faces charges of hazardous child possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, and possession of methamphetamine.
“It’s disappointing again, children. Tommy Thompson, IMPD public information officer, revealed in an interview that children have firearms. “That is not something that can happen in our community.”
According to court filings, the teen was involved in a burglary spree on Indianapolis’ northwest side from April 15 to April 24.
The crimes implicated other suspects who have yet to be identified.
Police reported further burglaries involving the same perpetrators on the east and southeast sides, as well as in Lawrence.
The 19 burglaries on the northwest side alone netted about $31,875, according to police. Each company had its windows destroyed with rocks or bricks and cash registers taken or smashed.
“That should have never happened to those business owners,” Thompson replied. “Where is accountability?” We continue to expect that from our community.”
Fingerprints of the 16-year-old were discovered at two crime scenes, according to the affidavit.
Officers discovered him in a vehicle with a 14-year-old boy and three adults in the 5600 block of Dollar Forge Drive on the southwest side.
During the inquiry, authorities discovered four weapons with machine gun conversion equipment attached.
In addition to the 16-year-old burglary suspect, police detained a 14-year-old for possession of a machine gun and hazardous possession of a handgun by a minor.
Melvion Germany, Michael Ellis, and Maurice Burge, all adult males, were arrested for possessing a machine gun, according to authorities.
Investigators believe the 16-year-old and those arrested were members of a group known as “The Reapers”. The group “is known by law enforcement to be involved in multiple business burglaries,” according to prosecution documents.
Police have not connected the three men or the 14-year-old to any burglaries, but they are aggressively looking for anyone involved.
“We know there’s community members that know something,” Thompson said. “That could be a parent, a grandparent, it could be a friend’s parent. But we need those people to come forward because we can’t do this alone.”
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