From Staff Reports
A Pea Ridge woman was arrested as the result into an investigation of a residential burglary.
Michelle Reif, 25, Pea Ridge, was arrested for residential burglary (felony), breaking or entering (felony), theft of property, crminial mischief and criminal trespassing.
According to police, on the evening of July 12, Pea Ridge police were dispatched to a residence on Jones Lane for an attempted burglary. Officers found damage to a rear window and screens at this location. The suspect had also apparently cut themselves on the glass from the broken window.
Officers assessing the scene felt there was a high likelihood of usable evidence being obtained in the scene. An off-duty crime scene technician and an off-duty patrol officer were called in to help with the evidence. All officers worked together and suspect blood and fingerprint evidence was documented and collected. The victim provided a possible suspect of someone who once lived in the residence.
On the afternoon of July 13, police again responded to the same residence for a residential burglary with theft of property. A different set of Pea Ridge Police officers responded to the second complaint, but were made aware of the previous report. The suspect had made unlawful entry into one of the victim's vehicles.
Police learned that the suspect, Reif, had been arrested and taken to the Benton County Jail for unrelated criminal cases. A Pea Ridge Police officer questioned Reif at the jail and she confessed to the attempted burglary from July 12 and the successful burglary on July 13. She claimed some of the property she took from the residence by forced entry actually belonged to her. Reif claimed all the stolen items could be located in a storage unit in Pea Ridge.
On July 14, Pea Ridge Police officers attempted to obtain the stolen items from the storage unit, but found none of the property in that location. It appeared Reif had provided police with false information. Through the investigation process, it was determined Reif's boyfriend might have information on where the property was located. He was contacted and through him, all the items were recovered.
General News on 08/10/2016