Font ResizeLAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces Police officer in the right place at the right time interrupted a Thursday morning burglary of a local business and helped in the arrest of a teenage suspect.
Thomas Adrian Brown, 16, is charged with non-residential burglary, larceny over $500, conspiracy, and resisting or evading arrest. The Juvenile Probation Office authorized detention of Brown, who was transported to the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
Shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday, a Las Cruces Police officer was on routine patrol near the intersection of Solano Drive and Idaho Avenue when he saw Brown carrying a box from the Time Vault store. As the officer approached Brown, the suspect dropped the box and ran to a waiting vehicle, which quickly left the scene.
The LCPD officer pursued the vehicle through the neighborhood until it stopped near the intersection of Chaparro Street and Utah Avenue. There, three occupants of the vehicle exited and fled from the officer. Two other occupants, a 22-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl, remained at the vehicle and were detained for questioning.
Additional LCPD officers responding to the incident located Brown near the intersection of Solano Drive and Nevada Avenue. The other occupants of the vehicle who took off running were not immediately located.
Investigators allege Brown broke into the Time Vault store and took several rolls of coins, cigars and other merchandise from the business. Some of the stolen property was located on Brown
Police are still investigating the incident and additional charges are possible.
