Pike County Sheriff Charles S. Reader reports that in the early morning hours of Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 01:50 am deputies from his office were dispatched to Cody’s Carry Out located at 8360 Ste. Rte. 124 Latham, Ohio in reference to a burglary in progress. While units were responding from different areas of the county, the Sheriff’s Office dispatch was receiving further information from witnesses whom live in the area.
Upon the arrival of deputy’s, the Sheriff’s K-9 unit “K-9 Gold ” was deployed and a male suspect was located crouched down beside an ice cooler hiding. The male whom was identified as 29 year old Michael Stafford was taken into custody without incident. Upon further investigation, it was found that the front glass on the carry out had been smashed and cigarettes removed from the business along with all the trash, out of a trash container, had been thrown all over the parking lot.
After further investigation and checking of the other area businesses, it was discovered that an attempted break in also took place at the Latham 1st Stop located at 8313 Ste. Rte. 124 Latham, Ohio. A front door and an ice machine had been damaged along with all the contents in the dumpster and trash cans had been thrown all over the lot.
Stafford was transported by Pike County EMS to Adena/Pike Medical Center where he was treated, released and later transported and housed in the Ross County Jail. Stafford is being held on 2 counts of Felony 5 Breaking & Entering, 2 counts of Felony-5 Vandalism and 2 counts of Felony-5 Criminal Tools. The criminal investigation will continue to insure that all persons involved in this matter will be prosecuted. This case will be presented to the next term of Pike County Grand Jury.
Sheriff Reader urges anyone with any information regarding this case to contact investigator’s at his office at (740)947-2111. Sheriff Reader also would like to thank the citizens that continued to stay on the phone with his dispatch center to insure the officers located and arrested the suspect. Again, I can’t stress the importance of the great citizens of this county being involved with local law enforcement, working together, success can be achieved.
