Published: October 13, 2009 05:12 pm      

UPDATED: Four suspects arrested in string of burglaries

Four suspects were arrested and booked into Johnson County Law Enforcement Center Tuesday in connection with the recovery of numerous items reported stolen in rural Burleson.

Ryan Evans Vernon, 18, and Ryan Lynn Baze, 19, both of Burleson, were arraigned at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Ronny McBroom’s court on charges of burglary of a vehicle enhanced by engaging in organized criminal activity. Both were held on $5,000 bond.

Richard William Morton, 18, and James Cole Bender, 19, both of Burleson, were arraigned at 5 p.m. on charges of burglary of a habitation and burglary of a vehicle enhanced by engaging in organized criminal activity. Both were held on $15,000 bond.

One of the suspects, proving cooperative, supplied locations of the reported thefts.

They included Woodbine, South Burleson Boulevard, Pheasant Run, Shadow Ridge, Bluebonnet Drive, Castle Road, Saddle Hills, Arbor Vine Trail, Pecan Drive, Charles, County Road 527, Colonial Parkway, Eric Lane and Woodland.

Theft victims residing in these areas are asked to contact Johnson County Sheriff’s Office at 817-556-6060.

According to Sheriff Bob Alford, deputy Ken Moser was dispatched at 2:15 a.m. to a call involving a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of Green River Valley Circle East in Burleson.

Shortly thereafter, deputy Randy Mejorado was dispatched to the scene of a habitation burglary in the 700 block of Hunting Brook Court, the same area as the first call.

Moser arrived at the scene of the suspicious vehicle and watched as two males began to walk toward him unaware of his presence. Moser detained both suspects while attempting to determine if they were involved in criminal activity.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, on-duty supervisor Cpl. Brad Bolin, Moser and Mejorado gained cooperation from one of the suspects, then devised a plan to meet the third and fourth suspects.

The cooperating suspect and the third and fourth suspects agreed on a meeting place. The cooperating suspect gave deputies permission to drive his vehicle to the scene of the meeting.

The deputies donned dark covered clothing so they would not be easily identified as they met the subjects at the intersection of Plantation and Embry in Burleson.

The third and fourth suspects approached Bolin, Moser and Mejorado, unaware they were in the cooperating suspect’s car. The third and fourth suspects were taken into custody without further incident.

According to the press release, all four suspects were transported to the sheriff’s office for questioning.