BCSO deputies have made arrests this week in connection with several recent thefts and burglaries. 

Capers charged with burglary on Forest View Drive 

An investigation by the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office of a burglary at a residence on Forest View Drive resulted in the arrest of Brookley D. Capers, 43, on Wednesday.

The investigation started on December 14 when a family member contacted the sheriff’s office after finding evidence that an interior basement door had been forced open. Upon further investigation damage to an outside basement door was discovered.

Two days later a neighbor called 9-1-1 after observing a strange vehicle parked in front of the residence. A check of that vehicle’s tag showed it was registered to the suspect.

Brookley D. Capers

Capers, of Steeple Circle, was taken into custody and is charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and two counts of theft under $500. Approximately $150 was taken in the two burglaries.

Capers remains in custody after having her bond set at $15,000 in General sessions Court.

Sheriff Tim Gobble commended the neighbor for keeping watch on the residence and contacting authorities when she noticed something out of the ordinary.

The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has increased patrols throughout the county using both marked and unmarked vehicles after seeing an increase in burglaries that is attributed to the holiday season, economic hard times, and to fund ongoing drug habits.

Gobble said all residents should take basic precautions such as locking vehicles and doors and making it more difficult for criminals to gain access. Anyone with information about any of the recent burglaries can contact the sheriff’s office at 728-7300, or the criminal investigations division at 728-7336.

Muddy foot prints lead deputies to suspect in church burglary

To solve a burglary at the Cleveland Community Chapel Church on Forrest Ridge Drive all Bradley County sheriff’s deputies had to do was follow a trail of muddy footprints that led to a nearby residence. It is where one of the suspects lives.

Three people have been charged with the burglary, two of them are juveniles.

The pastor of the church contacted the sheriff’s office on December 16 after finding a side door forced open and some of the churches sound equipment missing. All together, the loss of just over $1,500 included two TV sets, a cassette recorder, an audio mixing board, a guitar, DVD player, and four dollars in change.

During the investigation pieces of peppermint candy were found along a walkway in the sanctuary and a candy wrapper was lying near an exit. Using a K-9, detectives followed the suspects’ trail from the candy wrapper through a wooded area to a home on an adjacent street. Along the way they found an audio cable from the sound mixer, and two pairs of muddy tennis shoes were outside the residence where the trail ended. The shoeprints were consistent with prints that were found at the church.

Alexander B. Staufenbiel

The investigation led to the arrest of two youths, age 15 and 16, and Alexander B. Staufenbiel, 18, of Creekbend Circle. All three suspects are charged with burglary and theft over $1,000.

The church’s property was recovered except for one of the television sets.