Man arrested on suspicion of burglary spree

Hill County Sheriff Jamieson Ross said Tuesday sheriff’s deputies made an arrest on suspicion of robbing the local John Deere dealership, and law enforcement recovered the stolen property, as well as property reported stolen from E-1 Towing and from other reported thefts from the area.

Fabian “Ju Ju” Saddler Jr., 19, was being held in the Hill County Detention Center this morning on $820 bond for two counts of failure to pay and $50,000 on pending felony charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

A court document said items recovered exceed $20,000 in value and damage to items recovered and to property exceeded $1,500.

The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected, Ross added in the press release announcing the arrests.

He said the sheriff’s office wanted to thank the public for its assistance in the investigation and reminded people to secure their homes, vehicles and personal property to prevent thefts and to report suspicious activity.

“It is crucial we all work together to make our community safer,” Ross said.

According to a court document, Hill County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call Tuesday morning in which the caller reported a burglary and theft at Frontline Ag Solutions, a John Deere dealership east of Havre.

During the investigation, the deputies found that laptop computers, at least one company cellphone, wi-fi hotspots, gas cards and various keys for tractors, vehicles and locations on the dealership were stolen. Investigators also took photographs of suspected shoe impressions, including a distinctive print from a Nike shoe.

That afternoon, deputies responded to a report of burglary and theft at E-1 Towing, which is near Frontline Ag Solutions, the document said.

The deputy was told that a Jeep Wagoneer that had a shotgun in the back was stolen, and that the business’ fence was cut and damaged. Business representatives later told the deputy that a set of four chrome wheels and tires also was stolen.

A deputy drove by the residence on the 100 Block of 15th Avenue of a woman suspected to be involved in area burglaries and thefts. He saw a black Honda Pilot SUV that appeared to be leaving the residence, but the driver pulled his hat down and sank into the seat as if he did not want to be seen after he spotted the patrol vehicle, the document said.

The deputy found that the vehicle was being driven with expired registration.

At that time, an owner of E-1 Towing arrived, pointing at the Honda and a green and gray Subaru Outback parked at the residence. Using his cellphone, he showed the deputy a surveillance video from E-1 showing the Subaru going through the business’ lot early that morning.

At that time, the deputy saw the Honda’s backup lights come on and conducted a traffic stop.

A female passenger left the vehicle and tried to enter the residence, and the deputy detained her, the document said. The male driver was not in the vehicle.

The deputy also saw four chrome wheels and tires in the Honda, the document said, along with Pioneer home audio equipment and what appeared to be a car speaker.

The deputy knew that Havre police recently have had several reports of car break-ins and thefts of car audio equipment, the document said.

A woman who came out of the residence told the deputy that Saddler was the person who was driving the Honda and he had run into the residence, the document said.

The deputy looked into the Subaru and saw what appeared to be bolt cutters, which could be used to cut padlocks and fencing, and other tools in the vehicle, the document said.

The Honda and Subaru were seized pending obtaining search warrants, the document said. When the warrants were obtained and the vehicles searched, more tools that could be used in burglaries and multiple items reported stolen including from Frontline Ag and in other reported thefts were discovered and seized, the document said.

Wednesday, Darrell Gardipee III, who is known to associate with the suspects in the incidents and is a suspect himself, was arrested on suspicion of traffic offenses, the document said. His shoes were an exact match to footprints found at Frontline Ag, the document added.

A deputy interviewed Gardipee, who said he was not involved with the burglary at Frontline Ag, the document said. He said another person in the residence where the items were discovered has the same Nike shoes he has.

The document said that while the other set of shoes does not exclude Gardipee’s involvement, the deputy decided not to charge him at that time.

Saddler declined to be interviewed by law enforcement and requested an attorney, the document said.