A Minden man found by police inside a West Union residence without invitation Thursday afternoon may hold the key to solving other burglaries, including a series of vehicle break-ins, in the area, Minden Chief of Police Steve Cropper said.
Tervorious Quintel Harris, a 23-year-old resident of the 200 block of Miller Street, is charged with simple burglary, felony simple criminal damage to property and theft, Cropper said. He also is being held on a probation and parole warrant.
“When officers arrived at the house, they found an exterior window had been broken out. Once inside, the officers found Harris in the kitchen area,” the chief said. “When questioned by Lt. Chris Cheatham, Harris admitted breaking the window and entering the house. He said he was only looking for something to eat and a place to sleep.”
Lt. Cheatham, along with Sgt. Ryan Barnette, found a cell phone in Harris’ possession and learned it had been taken from a closet inside the residence, Cropper said.
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Cropper said although no one currently resides at the West Union house and the property is for sale, “…the residence still has furniture and electronics inside and gives the appearance of being occupied.”
One charge filed against Harris stems from the reported Jan. 23 theft of an HP tablet. Cropper said the suspect’s grandmother reported a day later that her tablet had been stolen, and investigators learned Harris had pawned the item locally.
Cropper said Harris is suspected in other burglaries in the same general area where he was arrested Thursday. Some firearms reportedly were stolen in the burglaries.
“If anyone recognizes Harris as the individual who either sold firearms or tried to sell firearms to them, we would request they please call the Minden Police Department at 371-4226 and ask to speak to an investigator,” Cropper said. “We think we can clear up some cases if we can get this information.”