COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 8 p.m. February 11, police received a report of three suspicious individuals who were allegedly attempting to enter parked vehicles in the 1400 block of South A Street in Arkansas City, according to a media release.
Officers began searching the area located the three suspect in the 1200 block of South Third Street. Two of the suspects fled the area and were not immediately apprehended.
Police interviewed one of the suspects and learned he was a juvenile, found in possession of items they suspected to be stolen.
Through the course of the investigation, officers learned the three suspects allegedly stole items from multiple vehicles in Arkansas City. The two suspects who fled later were located and apprehended.
One of the suspects also was a juvenile male and the third suspect later was identified as 21-year-old Aaron Christian Griffith.
Police determined the three suspects allegedly stole two handguns from different vehicles in Ark City, one in the 700 block of North Second Street and the other in the 400 block of West Walnut Avenue.
Police have recovered the handguns. Officers suspect the three were checking for unlocked vehicles throughout the city, ranging from Cowley College to the 700 block of North Second Street. The suspects allegedly attempted to enter several vehicles in the 1300 blocks of South A, B and C streets.
Griffith remains in custody on requested felony charges of burglary of a motor vehicle, two felony counts each of contributing to a child’s misconduct and theft of a firearm, one felony count of criminal possession of a firearm by felon, and one misdemeanor count of theft of property.
The juvenile were arrested suspicion of three felony counts of burglary of a motor vehicle, two felony counts of theft of a firearm, and one misdemeanor count of theft of property. They later were released to the custody of a guardian.