Weatherford Police Arrest Suspect in String of Burglaries

September 4, 2024 Featured Slider, News
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Sept. 4, 2024

A homeless man was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary following an investigation into a series of break-ins at a local trailer park in Weatherford. The incidents, which began on August 7th, led officers on a complex search before they apprehended the suspect, a man with a history of burglary and armed robbery.

The investigation started when officers responded to a burglary call at approximately 12:20 AM on August 7th at a trailer on East University Street. The victim told officers that she had been sleeping when she heard a loud noise. She texted her neighbor to check her trailer, only to be informed that her back door had been left open. When she investigated, she discovered several items, including two pink towels and Dove Rose Oil, had been stolen. She also noticed the bathroom light was on, the vent was running, and the toilet had been used, suggesting someone had recently been inside.

The victim reported seeing a man earlier that day, wearing a red shirt and bandana, walking between trailers. Her description became crucial to the investigation.

Later that day, at approximately 9:10 PM, the woman reported another burglary at her residence. This time, she found that lingerie had been stolen and her bathroom showed further signs of use. Investigators began to suspect that the burglar might be homeless and staying nearby due to repeated incidents involving the victim’s trailer.

In the following days, the victim’s friend, reported seeing the suspect again, and despite attempting to chase him through the trailer park, the man escaped. The man was described as a male with long black hair, a thin mustache, and carrying a knife.

On August 21st, officers arrested a man who matched the description. The man, identified as being 32-year-old Cully Griffin, was charged with public intoxication and admitted to being homeless. Officers noted that he had long black hair, a thin mustache, and had clothing matching that described by the witnesses. He was also found with black gloves and multiple bandanas.

On August 22nd, a photo lineup was presented separately to the victim and her friend. Both identified the suspect, who was later interviewed by police. He confessed to being homeless and admitted to using cough syrup as a drug. He also admitted to leaving the halfway house he was staying at during the nights in question.

Following his confession, police searched the suspect’s belongings at the halfway house and found several items matching the description of those stolen from the women’s trailer, including a pink towel and a bottle of lotion labeled “Rose Essence.” Further evidence was uncovered when police searched an abandoned trailer, where they discovered lingerie matching what the woman had reported stolen and a bottle of cough syrup.

Griffin was subsequently charged with first-degree burglary. His prior criminal record, which included multiple charges for burglary and armed robbery, was taken into account during the investigation.

He remains in custody pending further court proceedings, and evidence from the scenes is undergoing fingerprint and DNA analysis.