A Wyoming man has been arrested in Searcy County following multiple burglary attempts. Twenty-eight-year-old Bradley Dean Benzel from Torrington, Wy., is facing felony charges of residential and commercial burglary.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on May 10 an Arkansas State Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford Pickup with Nebraska tags. The driver was reported to not have a driver’s license and Benzel was his passenger. Following the traffic stop, authorities had the vehicle impounded by a local tow company.
A few days later on May 13, law enforcement made contact with the towing company at which time the vehicle was discovered to have been stolen from the lot.
On the same day, an officer with the Marshall Police Department and a deputy with the Searcy County Sheriff’s Office located two unoccupied vehicles along Arkansas Highway 27 South at an intersection at Wafted Lane. A white Ford pickup with Nebraska tags was found to be disabled and it was observed to have been in a single-vehicle crash. A second vehicle, a silver 2011 Ford Flex passenger car, was stationary along Wafted Lane with the lights on and the radio playing. With both vehicles being unoccupied, deputies had them impounded.
Later that day, deputies were dispatched to a location along AR Hwy. 27 South in Marshall for a report of the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department being broken into and property stolen. The suspect removed various power tools and equipment, such as chainsaws, drills and the DVR box containing videos of the individuals committing the crime.
Prior to arrival, another call was received reporting another burglary which had occurred at a residence south of the highway department on Viper Lane. The resident stated an unknown man had entered their home through a kitchen window and went into the bedroom of his seven-year-old daughter. While in the bedroom, the juvenile’s alarm clock sounded and startled the suspect, waking the juvenile and at which time she kicked at the intruder causing him to flee.
After fleeing the bedroom, the homeowner observed the intruder attempting to exit through the front door. After getting the lock open, the suspect jumped from the porch, ran through the yard and fled towards AR Hwy. 27 through a field. The homeowner did not chase the intruder on foot and lost sight of him. While investigating the incident, authorities were able to identify the suspect Benzel.
While on the scene, deputies discovered another business, Riley’s Tire Shop located at the intersection of AR Hwy. 27 and Arkansas Highway 333, had also been burglarized. Benzel was alleged to also be responsible for this burglary. Reports state he allegedly forced entry through a window and, at some point during the burglary, stole a vehicle parked at the tire shop for repair. After stealing the car, Benzel traveled South on AR Hwy. 27. At around five in the morning, the vehicle was located on Wafted Lane in Searcy County, approximately half a mile from the burglarized residence.
During the investigation, Benzel was discovered to have been responsible for the burglaries occurring at the Arkansas State Highway Department, Riley’s Tire Shop and the residence and was identified by a witness from the home. Benzel is reported to have a lengthy criminal history.
Benzel was booked in to the Searcy County Detention Center where he is currently being held. He is facing two felony counts of commercial burglary and one felony count of residential burglary. Benzel has also been ordered to have no contact with the victims.
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