Deputies located, arrest man wanted for business burglaries
Web Producer: Rikki Mitchell
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Authorities located and arrested one of two men involved in a string of business burglaries in the Tucson area.
Deputy Tom Peine with the Pima County Sheriff's Department tells KGUN9 that 38-year-old Charles Painter Spear was located and arrested Friday night. Peine said Spear's was easily recognizable because he wears a facial mask to hide a disfigurement.
Deputies have been searching for Spear and another man who can be seen in surveillance video breaking into a business. The two men who have been hitting different businesses since December 2012.
Detectives from the Sheriff's Department, Tucson Police, Oro Valley Police and Marana Police are all still searching for the second man.
Peine says the break-ins have similar characteristics. A rock is thrown through the window or front door of the business, which is usually located in a professional plaza.
A man enters, jumps the counter or front desk and starts rummaging through drawers.
Cash and other valuables have been taken. Damage costs in the sheriff's department cases range between $12,000 and $15,000.
Detectives do not know if the two men work together, but have found evidence linking them both to different crime scenes.
Peine also said these two may be responsible for more than 60 burglaries. The sheriff's department alone is investigating 24 different burglaries.
Law enforcement has not identified the the second man at this time.
Anyone with information on the identity of the second suspect is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
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