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Four arrested, suspected of string of burglaries in Silt

John Gardner
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado

SILT, Colorado – Two adults and two juveniles were arrested over the weekend for allegedly breaking into more than a dozen vehicles and one residence in Silt in the early morning hours of Oct. 24.

Silt Police reported that Preston Scott Goodnight, 18, and Yerson Ramone Arroyo, 18, both of Rifle, and two 16-years-old male juveniles, were arrested on suspicion of burglary, theft and other charges. One of the juveniles was arrested at the scene, while both Goodnight and Arroyo were arrested hours later by the Rifle Police. The other juvenile was later brought to the Silt Police department by his parents, according to Silt Police.

Both Goodnight and Arroyo were booked into the Garfield County Jail on $20,000 bond. Both were also advised of the charges against them Monday in Garfield County District Court.



Both face felony charges of second degree burglary, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, theft and theft by receiving, according to court records.

The juveniles also face felony second degree burglary charges as well, according to court records.

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According to the arrest report, Silt Police were contacted by a resident on South Golden Drive about 3:30 a.m. Saturday. The resident told police that his doorbell rang about 3:20 a.m. and when he got up to check, the home’s security alarm went off. The resident then told police that he had heard people in his garage. When he went outside he witnessed three males running away from his residence.

The arrest report alleged that officers found one juvenile in the back seat of a yellow Ford Focus parked on South Golden Drive. The report stated that the officer saw in plain view, a .38 caliber pistol, and a BB gun pistol in the car with the juvenile.

Officers also found a 30-06 rifle and a .270 Remington rifle in the vehicle – that were determined to have been stolen from one of between 10 and 14 vehicles in the neighborhood the same night – along with digital cameras, a laptop computer and MP3 players. Two six packs of beer and three bottles of Cabernet were taken from the garage of the residence the suspects allegedly entered.

According to the report, Goodnight, Arroyo and one juvenile entered the garage after breaking a window in the rear door, while the other juvenile was going through vehicles. That juvenile returned to the Focus while the other three ran off and called a friend for a ride back to Rifle.

Later that morning, Arroyo reported that his car – which was determined to belong to his parents – had been stolen. Rifle Police responded and arrested Arroyo.

Police said that the vehicle burglaries occurred in both Silt and Battlement Mesa. The suspects were targeting unlocked vehicles in an activity known as “car hopping” where burglars check vehicles for unlocked doors.

Silt Police Chief Levy Burris said Tuesday that police suspect that there are between 15 and 20 victims in the case. Burris cautioned residents to make sure to lock their vehicles, as well as their homes, and not to leave valuables in vehicles over night.

“For the most part they are looking for unlocked vehicles,” Burris said.

Garfield County Sheriff’s deputies assisted in the arrests.

jgardner@postindependent.com


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