CPD: Multiple arrests in string of car break-ins

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Sarah Bertucco, Jade Brown, Caleb Whitaker, Michael Rentz and Carson Ownby (Cullman Police Department)

CULLMAN, Ala. – Multiple people were arrested Friday, June 2, 2023, after a series of car break-ins occurred across the city of Cullman. According to Cullman Police Department Sgt. Adam Clark, the break-ins occurred in various areas.

A statement posted on the CPD’s Facebook page Friday said:

Early this morning Officer Hunter Riddlesperger located a suspicious vehicle on the west side of Cullman. He noticed two male subjects in hoodies carrying a backpack, walking toward the vehicle. After investigating the area where the vehicle was located, Officer Riddlesperger and Officer Zane Pounders found vehicles that had been burglarized. The subjects were detained, and after a more thorough investigation, all five occupants were arrested on drug charges and Breaking and Enter a motor vehicle. One of the subjects was from Huntsville and all the others were from Tennessee.

The Cullman Police Department would like to commend Officer Riddlesperger actively patrolling these neighborhoods and solving multiple B&Es

The individuals were located on Logan Street and Denson Avenue, according to Clark.

The five suspects are Sarah Bertucco, 18, of Huntsville; Jade Brown, 28, of Tennessee; Caleb Whitaker, 22, of Tennessee; Carson Ownby, 27, of Tennessee; and Michael Rentz, 21, of Tennessee. They face charges of unlawful breaking and entering of a motor vehicle and unspecified drug charges.

One of the victims of the break-ins, Dakota Brown, who lives in Kensington Station apartments, stated that when he went to walk his dog at 4:30 a.m., he noticed his wife’s car door was open and the interior lights were on. He said he then noticed her purse strap hanging out of the back hatch of her vehicle.

“I knew something was wrong so I went to our Ring (camera) footage and saw four subjects walk from left to right into frame and walk to her car, so I ran inside and woke my wife up and had her call the Cullman City Police,” Brown recounted.

“We would just like to remind people to make sure their vehicles are locked every night,” Clark stated.

Video footage courtesy of Dakota Brown

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