Interesting comments at the website. You can count on Ray to respond to almost every article in the paper blaming anything and everything on Mexicans.
http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/39503/
Tattoo artists catch burglar red-handed
Debbie Ramsey
Managing Editor
Friday, July 24th, 2009.
Issue 30, Volume 13.
A young man in the process of breaking in to a commercial building last night with an accomplice in downtown Fallbrook found himself being questioned by local tattoo artists until Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene.
Shortly afterward, deputies arrested William Anthony Reed, 21, after finding him in possession of items stolen from the building.
“He was caught with a laptop computer and other things,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron McCracken. “He was arrested for burglary and possession of stolen property.”
Tattoo artists Brad Garner and Gavin Bird, who were working late in their studio in the 200 block of North Main Avenue, noticed the two on the roof of a commercial building across the street. The structure, located at the corner of Main and Elder, is now known as the Merlot Building and houses a bakery, martial arts studio and the business offices of MRW Development.
“We were standing outside talking about 11 p.m. and I thought I saw two guys jump off that roof,” said Gardner. “Then I saw then go back up on top of it again and I thought, ‘Why are you guys on the roof [messing] around?”
Garner said at first he thought the duo had skateboards and were jumping from one level of the building to another. “I’ve seen these two guys around town before and recognized them,” he explained. “They are part of the skateboard and BMX bike group.”
After a few moments, Garner said he realized the duo did not have skateboards but were looking for a way to enter the building. “They were checking the vents on the roof and then were jumping down to try doors on the side of the building,” he said.
Garner and Bird decided to investigate the situation further. “We split up and each went up one side of the building,” Garner said. “Eventually we saw them come up toward the back of the property and had items in their hands.” At that point the two suspects fled the scene, with Garner and Bird in pursuit.
“I caught up with the one guy [Reed] by a medical Advertisement
office,” in the 100 block of South Vine Street, Garner said. “He had been hiding in the bushes.”
Garner confronted the suspect and began to question him. Garner said the suspect had removed one of the shirts he was wearing and stuffed it inside the ball cap he was wearing, in an attempt to not be recognizable.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Department was alerted.
“He was very nervous,” Garner said. “Later we discovered he and his buddy had been making runs in and out of that building and stashing [stuff] around the corner.”
Of the crime, Garner said, “This was very blatant. These two had no qualms about breaking into this building, right under the street lights, on Main Street.”
When deputies apprehended Reed he was in possession of a laptop computer and other related devices.
The duo evidently gained entry into the building by prying open a door on the second story of the building that leads into the offices of MRW Group.
“I am going to estimate they did about $500 in damage to the building,” said Don McDougal on behalf of MRW. McDougal said an outside railing was also damaged and was included in the estimate.
“At least when they caught him, they recovered my laptop,” McDougal said.
Fortunately, the martial arts studio didn’t sustain any damage and only minimal disruption was experienced by the bakery.
Aisha Lund of the Sweet Sicilian Bakery said the incident delayed the morning schedule at the bakery as clean-up was required in an area where metal racking had been knocked over, but that nothing appeared to be missing.
Lund said she was happy that at least one of the individuals responsible for the crime was caught.
“It was great that the guys from the tattoo parlor caught him,” Lund said.
McDougal said when MRW Group was asked by the Sheriff’s Department if they will press charges in the case, the answer was a “definite yes.”
Of his and Bird’s crime-fighting victory, Garner quipped, “I think we need to get some super hero costumes made.”
Reed is being held at the Vista Jail with bail set at $35,000.