Marion man points out burglaries; police find stolen property in his home

Police said they grew suspicious when the same Marion resident was located at the scene of two break-ins.

According to court documents and Marion police Lt. Scott Elam, on July 31, a burglary was reported at the Seventh Avenue Barbershop, 462 Seventh Ave. Elam said the burglary was called in by a neighboring business, but it was actually pointed out by 40-year-old Travis R. Johnson.

A day later, Johnson flagged down a Marion officer to report a broken door at the Cotton Gallery, 1060 Seventh Avenue.

Suspicious of Johnson's proximity to the two burglaries, police got a warrant for Johnson's residence at 975 Second Avenue. Their suspicion paid off: police found stolen property from both businesses inside Johnson's residence.

“If the officer would have come by 30 seconds later, (Johnson) probably would have been inside the business,” Elam said. “It's kind of one of those deals, do I let the officer see this door and I'm standing here or do I make it look like, ‘Hey, I'm walking by and saw it?'”

Despite Johnson's attempts at misdirection, he has been charged with two counts of third-degree burglary.