Public and Attentive Neighbors Help Police Solve 4 Harford County Burglary Cases with 7 Arrests in Less than a Week

From Maryland State Police:

Tenacity by Troopers from the Bel Air Barrack “D” and assistance from the public led to seven arrests and solved four Harford County burglary cases in less than a week. The continuing investigations will likely lead to the closure of dozens of other burglaries or similar crimes.

On July 18, 2011, Troopers responded to the 1500 block of Old Philadelphia Road near Aberdeen, MD for a residential burglary. During the course of the investigation, Troopers learned a Sony PlayStation video gaming system was stolen from the home. Investigators tracked the whereabouts of the stolen PlayStation and linked the gaming system to Laura Elizabeth Blodgett, 30, of the 600 block of Walker Street, Aberdeen, MD. Following the execution of a search warrant near Aberdeen, additional stolen property was recovered. During the probe, Troopers linked Brian Ronald Davis, 30 of the 600 block of Walker Street, and Christopher Michael McFarlin, 27, of the 400 block of South Stepney Road, Aberdeen, MD to the burglary and theft. All three subjects were charged with first-degree burglary and theft last week. They were remanded to the Harford County Detention Center.

Three days later, Troopers responded to the 700 block of Pulaski Highway near Joppa, MD for a commercial burglary. The victim told Troopers unknown persons burglarized his lawn care business prior to July 21, 2011 and stole nearly $18,000 equipment. With assistance from Baltimore County Police Department detectives, the stolen property was recovered in Dundalk, MD. Troopers identified culprits as Patrick Michael Whetzel, 24, of the unit block of Broadleaf Court in Parkville, MD and Mitchell Bradley Frost, 23, who uses addresses in both Pasadena, MD and Nottingham, MD. Both Frost and Whetzel were arrested on late Tuesday and charged with burglary and theft. Frost was jailed in the Harford County Detention Center in lieu of a $10,000 bond; and Whetzel was released after posting a $7,500 bond.

On August 5, 2011, Troopers responded to the 200 block of Haverhill Road in Joppa, MD for a reported residential burglary and theft of cash and handguns. The victim stated unknown persons entered his home and removed the property. There were no signs of forced entry into the home. Through extensive interviews, Troopers identified several subjects who visited the victim’s residence during the day of the theft. Investigators subsequently charged Tyrell Marcell Smith Jr., 18, of the 200 block of Mayberry Drive, near Aberdeen, MD with theft over $1,000. Smith turned himself in to investigators at the Bel Air Barrack “D” Monday. He was charged and later released pending trial.

Observant neighbors helped Troopers solve a burglary on August 8, 2011 near Street, MD. Troopers were called to the 2900 block of Dublin Road for a reported burglary in progress. A neighbor stated a white male entered the residence through a rear window. Upon arrival, Troopers and Harford County Sheriff’s Office Deputies set up a perimeter around the home and checked the residence. The suspect fled prior to the arrival of Troopers and Deputies. However, the perpetrator left his car in a neighbor’s driveway. The car was seized and later processed. Troopers obtained information concerning the identity of the suspect, who later responded to the Bel Air Barrack “D” to claim the vehicle. Christopher Allen Carter, 28, of Airville, PA, was taken into custody and charged with burglary and malicious destruction of property. Carter was taken before a District Court Commissioner, who released him on his own recognizance pending trial.

All investigations are continuing in conjunction with detectives from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Aberdeen and Havre de Grace police departments.

In the wake of the burglaries, Troopers are reminding the public to keep a record of the serial numbers of their property, and remain vigilant when it comes to their neighbors and the community. The property information provided by victims aided with the relatively quick closure of two cases. Attentive neighbors aided in solving an additional case.