Foot chase ends in arrests of two men
Published 12:00 am Friday, October 15, 2004
DEMOPOLIS – An automobile break-in turned bad Thursday afternoon for two individuals when they were arrested after trying to run from Demopolis police.
Demopolis police arrested Jonathan Dollison and Marcus Branch, both of Demopolis, about 3 p.m. Thursday
in connection with the burglary of two repossessed vehicles at 911 Recovery, located off Arcola Road just inside Hale County.
“We had reason to suspect they were breaking in vehicles and we were chasing them from Hale County,” said Hale County Sheriff Larry Johnson.
Johnson said at least one of the individuals arrested had “items in his pocket” that were consistent with those taken from the lot.
After being processed at the police department, Johnson said the two would be transported back to Hale County for further questioning.
Thomas Valenciaga, who along with his brother George, owns 911 Recovery said that the apparent target of the burglary was a window from a 1997 Pontiac Transport mini-van.
“The van they were in was missing the exact same window and they had taken that off part from the one on our lot,” he said.
According to Valenciaga, three individuals had entered the lot, taken the window and then burglarized a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, stealing the radio and speakers. Valenciaga said a third vehicle near the lot was also burglarized.
Apparently, said George Valenciaga, the would-be robbers dropped their loot and fled the scene after being discovered by someone working in a nearby field.
“Here’s the window and the radio,” Thomas Valenciaga said, opening the trunk of his car. “The other guy [the police] have in there had the tweeters in his pockets.”
Demopolis Public Safety Director Jeff Manuel said Demopolis police were not looking for a third suspect
at press time.