Arrest made after theft from Bernie business

BERNIE — A Kennett, Mo., man was arrested and charged following a burglary reported at MFA Agriculture in Bernie on Wednesday.

According to Bernie Police Chief Justin Allen, Richard Marcus McCarthy, 30, was arrested and charged through the Stoddard County Prosecutor’s office with burglary in the second degree, stealing a motor vehicle and stealing.

McCarthy’s bond is set at $12,500 cash only and he is being held in the Bernie City Jail.

McCarthy

According to the probable cause statement, the Bernie Police Department was dispatched to MFA Agriculture at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday in reference to a burglary that occurred sometime overnight.

MFA Manager Jared Smith reported to Sgt. Eddie Mays the warehouse building was left unlocked overnight and a 2012 Polaris Ranger, several pairs of Carhartt type bibs and tools were missing.

At approximately 10:01 a.m. Wednesday, the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department made contact with Allen regarding the stolen 2012 Polaris Ranger. It had been located with a broken rear tire and stuck in mud on an empty lot on Gerkin Street in Tallapoosa, Mo.

New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department also received information that the alleged suspect was McCarthy who stole the Polaris Ranger.

Officer Randy Elles of the Bernie Police Department reported to the scene and made contact with the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department to learn McCarthy was staying in the residence in front of the empty lot where the Polaris Ranger was located.

Elles, along with Investigator Zach Albright of the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department, made contact with a tenant of the residence who informed McCarthy was at the residence, “but wished he wasn’t here and I don’t want him here, and that he is back in the bedroom in bed.”

The tenant also alleged McCarthy returned to the residence “about 10:30 a.m.” that morning.

Elles and Albright acquired permission from the tenant to enter the home and speak with McCarthy, which was granted.

They entered the bedroom and woke McCarthy up and noticed some Carhartt type bibs on the floor of the bedroom.

Elles then asked McCarthy how long he had been at the residence and he replied, “he had been in bed all night.”

When inquiring whose bibs on the floor, McCarthy said they were his.

With permission to search the residence, Elles and Albright located all the stolen tools, several more pairs of bibs and a two-wheel dolly that was also stolen.

Elles and Albright placed McCarthy under arrest and during a search of McCarthy’s person, a key ring was found hooked to his belt loop that had a key to the stolen Polaris Ranger and key to the gate at MFA Agriculture in Bernie.

Elles then transported McCarthy to the Bernie Police Department.

At approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, McCarthy was read his Miranda warning and interviewed by Allen.

McCarthy allegedly told Allen “that sometime during the night he went to MFA Ag shop and found a door in the back open.”

McCarthy then allegedly said he gathered the stolen items and put them in the back of the Polaris Ranger and drove to Tallapoosa to the residence he was arrested.

After warming up, he then allegedly went back to the Polaris Ranger and broke the back tire off of it while driving it down the road and got stuck in the mud where it was located.

According to Allen, McCarthy is on parole for burglary and has an extensive criminal record.