Arrests made in connection to string of car break-ins

El Dorado police and residents have had their hands full with a rash of vehicle break-ins that have gripped the city for the past several weeks.

Police are starting to break the case with several arrests made in connection to the incident and more arrests forthcoming.

Capt. Cathy Phillips, of the El Dorado Police Department Criminal Investigative Division, said the case is layered, explaining that the incidents include vehicle break-ins, burglaries and thefts.

Investigators have determined that the vehicle break-ins that have occurred within the past several weeks have been committed largely by two groups of suspects that include adults and juveniles.

Two people — an adult and a juvenile —who were arrested early Friday morning in connection to the vehicle break-ins were previously arrested in Pine Bluff for their alleged involvement in the incidents.

Tyrell R. Dunn, 18, of 1332 Blackard, and a 17-year-old boy were taken into custody Friday after officers responded to a call of shots fired in the area of North Miles.

The pair was arrested July 26 in Pine Bluff after officers there stopped them in a car that had been reported stolen a day earlier from a residence in the 200 block of Chula Vista.

The complainant in the Chula Vista theft told police that the car belonged to his wife, and the suspects had entered his vehicle and stolen the key to his wife’s car.

Phillips said Dunn and the boy were arrested in Pine Bluff for theft by receiving, noting that several items that were found in the car had been reported stolen from vehicles in El Dorado.

One of the items was a handgun —which resulted in additional charge of a minor in possession of firearm for the 17-yearold, Phillips said.

The boy faces two counts of the same charge stemming from his arrest Friday.

He was also charged with criminal trespass and violation of the city’s juvenile curfew ordinance.

Dunn was arrested for criminal trespass and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police received the call about the gunshots at 12:43 a.m. Friday, and while circulating the area, they saw the Dunn and the boy walking in the on North Miles near North.

Upon seeing officers, the pair immediately turned east on Woodland, and when an officer exited his patrol unit, Dunn and the boy stepped into the front yard of a residence in the 1300 block of Woodland.

The boy told officers his mother lived in the residence. Residents there said did not know the boy or Dunn, and they were not authorized to be on the property.

During a search incident to arrest, police said they found two handguns and ammunition inside the boy’s backpack.

Phillips said investigators determined that one of the handguns had been stolen in a recent vehicle

break-in.

“We’re working on the other one to see where it came from,” she said.

Dunn made his first appearance Friday in 35th Judicial District Court.

He remained in the Union County Jail Friday night in lieu of $1,030 bond, cash or corporate surety.

The boy was transported to White River Juvenile Detention Facility in Batesville.

Police noted that the arrest marked the boy’s fourth offense for violating the city’s youth curfew ordinance.

Parents may be cited after the second violation by a juvenile and after the third violation by a juvenile, the police chief may contact juvenile authorities.

Police may also then refer the matter to the 13th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office, the Arkansas Department of Human Services and/or any other appropriate authorities to ensure that assistance/ guidance is given to the juvenile.

Police said they were unable to make contact with the boy’s mother, his custodial parent, and they notified his father.

Phillips said two 16-yearboys were also arrested Friday in connection to the incidents.

She said adults who are arrested along with juveniles in connection to the break-ins will be charged with contributing the delinquency of a minor.

“Today, we’ve been out talking to some of the parents of these children, and they’ve mostly been cooperative,” Phillips said.

She said more arrests are forthcoming and

investigators expect to issue arrest warrants in the coming days, noting that they are seeking to adjudicate some juveniles as adults.

“We’ve recovered several pieces of stolen property, and we’re looking for the other property,” Phillips said.

Some of the recovered property came from a residential burglary that was reported late last month in the 2300 block of Ridgewood.

While such incidents customarily spike during the summer, Phillips said reports of break-ins and burglaries have intensified over the past several weeks.

She said vehicle breakins have mostly occurred on the north side of town, and in most instances, the vehicles were unlocked.

‘What we’re seeing on

surveillance video is that they’re checking doors, and if they’re open, they’re going in. If they’re locked, they’re moving on,” she said.

“We’re asking people to keep their vehicles secure and don’t leave their valuables inside firearms, money …”

In some recent arrests, Phillips said the victims know the perpetrators.

“The evidence we’re recovering is we’re connecting several of the juveniles together, and some of the victims, we’ve discovered, they know some of the juveniles and have helped some of the juveniles,” Philipps said. “Needless to say, they’re heartbroken.”