4 arrested for suspected vehicle burglaries

Stock photo | St. George News

CEDAR CITY – Four people were arrested in Cedar City last week for alleged vehicle burglaries and later attempting to sell stolen items.

Brian Bedford, of Cedar City, Utah, bookings photo, November 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff's Office, St. George News
Brian Bedford, of Cedar City, Utah, bookings photo, November 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

In late October, Cedar City Police received four different complaints of vehicle burglaries within close proximity to each other, according to a probable cause statement. The incident occurred the night of Oct. 30, and multiple items were reported stolen.

In the first car, a rifle was taken, followed by a shotgun being taken from a second car. In a third car, a pair of binoculars valued at $150 were stolen, while in the a fourth car, a Beats Audio speaker valued at $350 was removed.

On Friday, police received a report of individuals attempting to sell allegedly stolen firearms. The people were subsequently located at the Maverik gas station on Airport Road.

Once there, police officers encountered Brian Bedford, 19, of Cedar City; Melissa Brown, 19, of Enoch; Crystal Campbell, 23, also of Cedar City; and a 17-year-old juvenile.

The four were taken into custody by police, who also obtained consent to search the car the four were found in, according probable cause statements filed in support of the arrests.

A search of the car produced the two missing firearms, binoculars and Beats Audio speaker.

Upon the four being told their rights, Bedford invoked his right not to be questioned.

Crystal Campbell, of Cedar City, Utah, bookings photo, November 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff's Office, St. George News
Crystal Campbell, of Cedar City, Utah, bookings photo, November 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Bedford is suspected of having been present during the vehicle burglaries, helping to facilitate them and attempting to sell the firearms.

Upon questioning the 17-year-old, police learned the teen was responsible for taking the shotgun and that Bedford had taken the rifle. Bedford was also allegedly the one who took the binoculars, along with a knife and flashlight.

Brown told police she was the one who took the Beats Audio speaker, according to the statement.

Campbell admitted to being present during the incidents while the others went “car hopping” the night of the alleged thefts, yet she said she stayed in the car and did not take anything herself.

“Campbell did not prevent or discourage others from this activity,” a Cedar City police officer wrote in the arrest report. “It is believed that Campbell was a look out during the incident.”

Police acquired a search warrant for the home where Brown and Bedford were staying and found a white substance in a purse that Brown said was crushed oxycontin.

Bedford, Brown and Campbell were each booked into the Iron County Jail.

Melissa Brown, of Enoch, Utah, bookings photo, November 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff's Office, St. George News
Melissa Brown, of Enoch, Utah, bookings photo, November 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Bedford was charged with three felony counts connected to the theft of a firearm and possessing stolen firearms, as well as five misdemeanor charges for vehicle burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Brown was charged with three felony counts connected to possessing stolen firearms and being a restricted individual in possession of a firearm, as well as six misdemeanor charges for vehicle burglary, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of a controlled substance.

Campbell was charged with misdemeanor counts of vehicle burglary.

Bedford and Brown are each scheduled for preliminary hearings in 5th District Court Nov. 18.

Campbell has an arraignment hearing set for Nov. 17.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

 

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