The Paris Police Department arrested an alleged homeless burglar on Wednesday, who had been arrested and released twice in November.
[RELATED: Drug-Using Squatters Removed from Paris Home…]
At approximately 12:26 p.m., officers from the Paris and Norway Police Departments responded to reports of an active burglary in the 200 block of Alpine Street in Paris.
The son of the property owner was watching the alleged burglar on a security camera and was able to provide a description of the male suspect to the police.
The suspect reportedly fled on foot, and officers quickly found him in the immediate area and identified him as Merle Evans, 53, with no fixed address.
Evans was allegedly in possession of stolen property, and he reportedly confessed to the crime.
He was arrested and charged with theft, trespassing, and violating the conditions of his release.
The Paris Police Department’s press release pointed out that Evans had previously been arrested on Thanksgiving for allegedly trespassing at a different residence, but he was subsequently released.
The release failed to mention another November arrest that took place on November 3, when he was arrested on outstanding felony drug warrants while reportedly squatting in an abandoned house.
Despite Evans’ numerous recent arrests, authorities appear reluctant to keep him incarcerated. It is not clear whether he has yet been released following his most recent arrest.
