Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A 13-year-old Safford juvenile is facing numerous charges after being implicated in two separate beer thefts on two consecutive nights.
Officers had already attempted to reach the youth at his grandmother’s house on Aug. 11 after she called them for assistance in dealing with him. At that time, an officer indicated the youth committed violations including possession of a tobacco product by a minor, incorrigible child, and runaway juvenile.
Later that same night, an officer was dispatched at about 11:22 p.m. to the Speedway gas station at 105 E. U.S. Highway 70 regarding the theft of two 18-packs of Bud Light by a juvenile suspect.
The suspect was not caught that night, but video surveillance footage viewed the following day identified the suspect as the same 13-year-old juvenile who the police had already been looking for.
Additionally, on Aug. 12 at about 10 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the Speedway gas station at 300 E. U.S. Highway 70 regarding a juvenile who had stolen an 18-pack of Bud Light and an eight-pack of 16-ounce cans of the same beer. The juvenile male in the video surveillance was identified as the same 13-year-old suspect.
Store video showed the suspect pacing outside at about 9:25 p.m. and wait for the business to be empty of customers. At about 9:32 p.m., the footage shows him enter, take the beer, and then flee from the store.
At about 11:30 p.m., the officer was northbound on 1st Avenue approaching the intersection with U.S. Highway 70 when he saw a youth matching the suspect’s description. Two other juveniles were with the suspect and fled on foot from the officer. The suspect was apprehended, however, and after initially providing a false name admitted to his true identity.
After being read his Miranda Rights, the youth allegedly admitted to drinking six beers and smoking some marijuana. He also allegedly admitted stealing the beer from the gas stations.
The officer called Juvenile Probation, who advised that the youth had multiple cases pending with the Graham County Attorney’s Office and due to that fact and because of the youth’s admission that he had been drinking, Juvenile Probation declined to detain him and suggested the officer instead contact the Department of Child Services, which had already been contacted.
The youth was then returned to the care of his grandmother and his charges were forwarded to Juvenile Probation and the Graham County Attorney’s Office for review.
Related Posts
