RESIDENT’S CALL TO 911 ABOUT BURGLARY ATTEMPT LEADS TO SUSPECT ARREST

Lea Brandon photoA resident’s call to 911 after seeing a man attempting to remove a window air-conditioner unit from the home led to an arrest. At approximately 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, officers with the Benton Police Department responded to Dalewood Drive, but the suspect had fled the area.

Officers later found the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Brandon D. Lea of Benton, in the area. BNPD detectives assumed the investigation and determined Lea was also responsible for a burglary that occurred at a home on Hester Street on Aug. 17, 2017. The investigation led to the recovery of stolen property from the Aug. 17 burglary report, which was returned to the victim on Hester Street.

Lea was transported to the Saline County Detention Center. He faces charges of Residential Burglary, class B felony, and Criminal Attempt to Commit Residential Burglary, class C felony. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the suspect or information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS.  Individuals also may send an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip.  A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on iTunes and Google Play.

Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Follow BNPD on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benton-Police-Department/2218291745608