Posted by Travis Uresk | May 25th, 2023 | Burglary |
By Travis Uresk
5/25/23
Vernal, Ut.-On 5/5/23, the complainant said someone threw a rock through the front door of Mr. S Clothing store at 48 West Main Street.
The Officer met with the complainant in the front of the store and saw the entrance glass door was broken. There was a hole in the bottom corner with most of the broken glass inside the store with two rocks inside the store.
At this time, no arrests were made.
On 5/10/23, at around 11:00 pm, Cpl. Johnstun responded to a business alarm detail at Jiffy Pawn Shop at 630 West Main Street. Johnstun was advised by dispatch the business had an alarm for broken glass.
While the Cpl. Was en route to the store, dispatch informed him the responsible party had a male subject detained in the alley West of the store.
When Cpl. Johnstun arrived on scene. The responsible party was kneeling on a male subject in the alley. The male subject was identified as 30-year-old Dakota Michael Melton.
Johnstun secured the male in handcuffs and asked him what was going on. Dakota stated he accidentally broke the window to the store. Johnstun asked Dakota why he broke the window, and he stated he was going to steal some items from the store.
The glass on the front door was broken in two places. A piece of broken asphalt was lying next to the front door.
Store video was collected, showing Dakota throwing the piece of asphalt twice, striking the window. The cost to repair the door was between $600 to $800.
In 2015 Dakota broke the window at Jiffy Pawn and Mr. S Clothing.
During the interview, Dakota admitted to also breaking the glass at Mr. S Clothing, and he was going to steal items there also. The cost to repair the glass at Mr. S was $701.
Dakota was transported to the Uintah County Jail and booked in for criminal mischief and attempted burglary.
