On Saturday, June 10, at 10:57 p.m., officers with the Swainsboro Police Department responded to a call at the Smoke Cave, 229 South Main Street, Swainsboro. Upon arrival, PFC Seth Purvis went to the back door of the business and saw the door knocked off the hinges, laying inside the store, with a large wooden pole on top of it. SSGT Josh Bedgood arrived on scene to assist. The building was searched and no one was inside. Detective Clay Young, Weston Coleman and Detective Angie Wilkerson were called in to do an investigation.
When contact was made with the owner, he was able to give video footage of two young males knocking down the door and entering the business. Video footage showed a white male wearing a white hoodie and a black male wearing a black hoodie. The white male’s face could be seen on video.
Detective Young found two sets of foot tracks going east on Short Street. Young deployed K9 Maya on the tracks. Maya went east behind Lynn & Bob’s Restaurant, then on a path in the woods to Market Street. Maya stayed on the trail to Stevens Drive, where she found the white hoodie, believed to be the hoodie the white male was wearing. Detective Wilkerson gathered the hoodie for evidence while Maya continued into the yard of 322 Stevens Drive. She then headed to Braswell Boulevard, stopping at 392 Braswell Boulevard.
Officers, covering the front and back doors of the Braswell Boulevard residence, knocked on the door and a white male opened the back door. Purvis recognized him as the white male on the video. When asked if anyone else was home, the white male responded that there was no one else there. He was placed under arrest and asked where the black male resided. Officers were later informed that the black male lived at 322 Stevens Drive.
Upon arrival at 322 Stevens Drive, officers arrested the other suspect and found a black bookbag with tobacco products inside.
Both were juveniles and were taken to the Swainsboro Police Department for questioning. They were charged with Burglary - forced entry - non-residence; criminal trespass – business; and unruly juvenile.
The suspects were released to their parents.
