UPDATE:
SUMMERDALE - On the afternoon of July 20, officers with the Greenville Police Department and deputies with the Butler County Sheriff's Office came into contact with Justin Edward Speer. He was located while officers were investigating a suspicious person call from a local resident who saw him come onto her porch. While talking to Speer, they noticed that he fit the general description of the suspect we were looking for in regards to the recent vehicle burglaries and vehicle theft. Further investigation by the Greenville Police Department patrol officers found that some items of property from various vehicle burglaries were found in Speer's possession including a .22 caliber handgun belonging to a victim of the vehicle theft in Summerdale. Speers was arrested and placed in the Butler County Jail for Receiving Stolen Property by Butler County Authorities while awaiting further charges from Baldwin County. Speer invoked his right to counsel and refused to make any statements. Speer is being charged with Theft of Property First Degree, for the stolen pickup truck, and other stolen items are being matched to the appropriate victims and additional charges will be forthcoming. Speer is also wanted by West Virginia Authorities for violating his probation in that state.
The Summerdale Police Department wants to thank the Greenville Police Department, The Butler County Sheriff's Office and Alaina Harvey of the West Virginia State Probation Office in Lincoln, West Virginia for their much-needed assistance in this case.
ORIGINAL POST:
On the morning of July 29, Summerdale Police Department officers responded to several reports of vehicles that had been entered and items stolen from them in the Marsh Bridges subdivision. These vehicles were left unlocked and showed no signs of forced entry. One vehicle, a green 2004 GMC Sierra Pickup Truck was stolen from the residence. The vehicle was later found wrecked by Alabama State Troopers around the 137 Mile Marker of northbound I-65. The vehicle was treated as a crime scene and examined by our officers during the afternoon of July 29.
Very little information about the perpetrator(s) of this crime is known at this time. The neighborhood and surrounding area was canvassed and many property owners with video surveillance provided assistance, however there was no video found of any suspect. Witnesses described a male around 20’s to 30’s, dark hair, slim build, 5'11 to 6’00 wearing a blue shirt and orange shorts seen in the area around 7 p.m. the previous night.
Anyone that has information is encouraged to contact the Summerdale Police Department at 251-947-4010.
