A reported buglary in progress on the east side of Pine Bluff Tuesday resulted in the arrest of two men who allegedly broke into a trailer and stole a jar containing loose change.
Isaiah Perkins, 20, and his cousin, Demon Thomas, 18, were taken into custody after a witness to the incident called police and gave responding officers descriptions of what the two were wearing.
According to a probable cause affidavit from Detective Steve Rucker, the burglary was reported at 1719 S. Ohio St., and tee witness told police the men headed toward Southeast School.
When they were located, one of them was carrying a coffee can with a clear container inside that held loose change, and the witness was brought to the scene where they were identified.
The owner of the residence told police he was missing approximately $25 in change, and said his front door was broken in, along with a storage shed.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Rucker reported that when Thomas was interviewed, he said he and his cousin met a person he knew as “Tre” who took them to the trailer. Thomas also allegedly said Perkins and Tre went behind the trailer and he heard the sound of glass breaking in the door. Thomas said he saw the witness and all three fled, with Perkins picking up the container with the coins from an abandoned trailer where they had stored items taken from the other trailer.
When Perkins was interviewed, he initially denied going into the trailer and said friend he knew as “J” gave him the container with the coins when they were in a field.
Rucker reported that when Perkins was confronted with what Thomas had said, he changed his story but denied entering the trailer and also denied being at the trailer when it was broken into.
Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set a $10,000 bond for Perkins and Thomas Thursday after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge them with residential burglary and theft of property.
Perkins and Thomas said they would hire their own attorneys.