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Courtesy PhotoImage
Stanley J. Churchwell
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Neighbors helped nab a suspected thief in late September, after they saw people carting off pickup loads of items from a home and yard in the 700 block of N. Bryan. On Thursday, another charge of theft by deception was added against the prime suspect, Stanley Churchwell. Churchwell has been in jail since he was arrested Sept. 29, held on a $12,500 bond. On Thursday, another $10,000 bond was applied to his case. In the initial arrest, police responded to the neighbors’ reports around 9 a.m. and they were able to find Churchwell, who was driving the pickup. Churchwell said he was cleaning up the property at the owner’s request. However, the owner, Karl Kirkland, told police he didn’t give anyone permission to be on his property. Apparently, Churchwell solicited help of several people who thought he was legitimately cleaning up the property, Police Lt. Steve Reeves said. At the time, Reeves said several pickup loads of stolen merchandise were recovered and Churchwell was initially charged with burglary and theft by taking. After more investigation, police believe there are at least three victims of the theft. So far, stolen items in the latest charge add up to about $615, police information officer Rodney Brown said.
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