A Poplar Bluff man sits in the Butler County jail facing several charges in relation to a pair of alleged burglaries Tuesday night.
Jacob C. Wethington, 23, of the 1300 block of Nooney Street is charged with one count of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree attempted burglary, five counts of first-degree property damage and one count of first- degree trespassing. First-degree burglary is a Class B felony, second-degree attempted burglary and first-degree property damage are Class E felonies and first-degree trespassing is a Class B misdemeanor.
According to the probable cause statement by Butler County Sheriff's Department criminal investigator Randle Huddleston, Butler County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 600 block of Ridgeview Lane at 3:17 a.m. Wednesday morning in reference to an alleged burglary in progress.
Dispatch stated that the homeowner had awakened to his burglar alarm being activated and observed multiple windows broken out of the residence due to a rock being thrown at them as well as a camera that had been ripped off its stand and thrown through a window.
When deputies arrived, they were flagged down by the homeowner and a second homeowner at another residence in the 600 block of Ridgeview Lane. The two homeowners were holding a white male, later identified as Wethington, at gunpoint. Wethington was placed in handcuffs and put into a patrol vehicle.
The first homeowner reportedly told deputies that he was awakened by his burglar alarm going off, at which time he retrieved a handgun and walked outside his residence, where he allegedly observed Wethington standing near the back door of the residence, which was standing open approximately three or four inches.
The first homeowner commanded Wethington to get on the ground multiple times by pointing his handgun at him, at which time Wethington took off running and the homeowner discharged his firearm into the air in an attempt to get Wethington to stop.
The first homeowner pursued Wethington in the direction of the second residence and when he arrived, he observed the second homeowner holding Wethington at gunpoint in his front yard.
The first homeowner stated that the damages to his windows, rear door, camera and two motion sensors allegedly totaled $6,000. The homeowner also said that the keypad to the subdivision was allegedly ripped from the ground and will cost an additional $10,000 to replace.
Video from the first homeowner also allegedly shows Wethington walking onto the property at 1:40 a.m. Wednesday, breaking out a window with the camera, throwing a rock through the window and attempting to enter the residence by kicking the door and running into the door with his shoulder.
Wethington is being held without bond at the Butler County jail.