Full Notification

44-year old Springfield man charged for burglarizing eastern Greene County home after owner uses app to track stolen iPad; another man also charged for receiving stolen property from the burglary

On Thursday (05/28/15) afternoon, Greene County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a home in the area of the 1500 block of North Farm Road 197 in eastern Greene County where the homeowner reported a burglary. Several items were stolen from the home including a handgun and an iPad. The homeowner used an app to track the location of the iPad and was able to provide possible locations to Greene County Sheriff's Deputies as to where they could find the stolen items and burglary suspect(s). One of the locations the homeowner provided was in the area of East Kearney Street and North Packer Road; GCSO Deputies observed a male exit from a black Jeep Cherokee with an iPad in his hand and what appeared to be an outline of a handgun in the back pocket of his jeans.

GCSO Deputies contacted the male who jumped into another vehicle and fled from the location. The suspect led Deputies in a pursuit throughout areas north of Springfield; when the suspect started driving northbound in the southbound lanes of North State Highway 13, Deputies terminated pursuing any further. Shortly after, the suspect drove through a fence in the area of North State Highway 13 and East State Highway WW where he fled from the truck and into the nearby wooded area. A perimeter was quickly established and GCSO Deputies including K9 Lor were deployed to search for the suspect who was later identified as 44-year old Springfield resident JAMES E STRICKLER.

GCSO Deputies and K9 Lor apprended Strickler; he was arrested and received medical attention prior to being transported to the Greene County Jail.

Upon further investigation, GCSO Detectives received information from the homeowner of a possible location for the iPad which was not recovered at the scene. Detectives responded to a residence in Springfield and contacted 44-year old WILLIAM M HOOVER; he was found in possession of the stolen iPad along with several other items taken from the home on North Farm Road 197. Hoover was arrested and transported to the Greene County Jail.

The Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged JAMES STRICKLER with:
1 - Felony count of 2nd Degree Burglary
1 - Felony count of Stealing
1 - Felony count of Resisting/Interfering Arrest
1 - Felony count of Possession of a Controlled Substance
(warrant #1531-CR03243, bond amount $50,000.00)

The Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has also charged WILLIAM HOOVER with:
1 - Felony count of Receiving Stolen Property
1 - Felony count of Possession of a Controlled Substance
(warrant #1531-CR03244, bond amount $50,000.00)

"Our Deputies have arrested 6 people suspected of burglarizing homes in Greene County this month, shortly after they committed these crimes, and the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged each and every one of those suspects thanks to the diligence and aggressive pursuit for justice by the GCSO Deputies and Detectives," states Sheriff Jim Arnott. "We will be making our presence known to those criminals who are targeting the citizens of Greene County."

A charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.