By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
Police have made an arrest in connection to at least one of the recent daytime residential burglaries in west-central Salina, as well as other alleged thefts.
On Feb. 7, officers were sent to the Shell gas station at 1717 W. Crawford Street for the report of a person who allegedly stole $34 worth of cigarettes, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.
Then, on Friday, officers were sent to the 700 block of Commanche Avenue for the report of a residential burglary. In that case, the resident reported that while she was gone during the day, someone stole two debit cards from her phone case. Also missing were a Sony Playstation, an Xbox 1, a Sony Playstation VR headset, and some controllers, Forrester said. Loss, in addition to the missing debit cards, was estimated at $900.
Later on Friday, one of the woman's debit cards was used twice for just under $30 at the 24/7 Travel Store at 671 Westport Boulevard, Forrester said. Surveillance video showed a 5'11" person wearing a black hoodie with the word "Crenshaw" on the front using the card. A short time later, an officer spotted a person wearing the hoodie in the 600 block of Westport Boulevard. That person, identified as Jermaine Cooper, 25, of Salina, was detained for questioning, Forrester said.
Police believe Cooper was the person in the above thefts and burglaries. Additionally, Cooper also was recognized from surveillance video from the neighborhood near a daytime residential burglary in the 800 block of W. Republic Avenue on Wednesday, Forrester said.
Police arrested Cooper on requested charges of Two counts of burglary, Theft of a firearm, Felony theft by deception, Three counts of misdemeanor theft, Two counts of criminal use of a financial card and Criminal damage to property
According to Forrester, police continue to check for surveillance video near the locations of the other daytime burglaries to see whether Cooper might be connected to those as well.