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Fayette County Sheriff’s Department busts school break-in suspect with K-9 help

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department arrested a juvenile and is seeking one other accomplice in connection to a Tuesday morning break-in at Gatewood Elementary School.

Sergeant J.R. McMullen of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Pappy, a K-9 bloodhound.

Police believe the break-in occurred before 4:30 Tuesday morning. School personnel believe that the two suspects, who were hooded in an attempt to conceal their identities, escaped with three laptop computers and six iPad minis.

By Tuesday night, one suspect was in custody.

The Sheriff’s Department followed a tip Tuesday night that an unidentified male had been carrying multiple bags in the area of Water Plant Road, which is off of Gatewood Road.

With the assistance of a K-9 bloodhound named Pappy, police were able to track the suspect for about half of a mile. The search began in an area where police suspected the stolen items were being hidden. It ended at the suspect’s residence.

“We are grateful for the tips from the public that led to the recovery of this stolen property,” Sheriff Mike Fridley said. “We are also extremely proud of Pappy for leading us right to the suspect’s residence. Without Pappy’s keen nose, we would still be attempting to identify a suspect in this case.”

This suspect was identified as a juvenile male. Investigators are in the process of filing a juvenile petition against him.

At this time, a female accomplice is suspected but has not been identified.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Fayette County 911 Center at (304) 574-3590.





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