Man caught, tased after auto parts store break-in

An alarm tipped off police after a burglar cut through the wall of a Cedar Rapids auto parts store Monday morning.

Police eventually arrested  Zachariah N. Hale, 38, after they caught him in the act at O'Reilly Auto Parts, 4528 Center Point Rd. NE. An officer used a Taser to subdue him after a short foot chase, police said.

Officers responded around 3:45 a.m. to the business when the alarm was triggered. They found that someone had cut a hole through metal siding, insulation and sheet rock at the back of the business.

When police entered through the back entrance, Hale ran out the front door and got past officers that had tried to surround the business. He was captured a short time later in the parking lot of Pat McGrath Dodge Country, police said.

Hale was taken into custody on suspicion of third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools and interference with official acts. He was taken to the Linn County Jail.

Online court records show that Hale was convicted of second-degree theft in Scott County in 1999.