TEXARKANA, Texas - Four teenagers were arrested Tuesday morning after an alert neighbor spotted a group of juveniles leaving a nearby garage and called 911, leading police to recover 18 pairs of allegedly stolen shoes, including Nike Air Jordans.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 11, a resident near College Drive and Tanglewood Street noticed several juveniles coming out of a neighbor's garage. The witness saw them close the garage door and run from the area, according to the Texarkana Texas Police Department.
The neighbor immediately called 911.
Officer Spots Juveniles Running From Area
Officer Rayveun Blakely was nearby when the call was dispatched and quickly spotted a group matching the description as they crossed Richmond Road and ran toward an apartment complex on Nichols Drive.
Police said the juveniles split up when they saw the officer.
Blakely chased one of them on foot. The teen attempted to jump a fence but fell while trying to get over it, allowing Blakely to catch him behind a residence on Shady Lane.
Other responding officers searched the apartment complex and located three additional juveniles.
18 Pairs of Shoes Recovered
When officers returned to the home where the suspected burglary occurred, they could see empty shoe boxes scattered throughout the garage and heard an alarm sounding inside the residence.
Although officers were initially unable to enter the garage, police said what they could see from outside indicated something was wrong.
Investigators then examined what the juveniles had been carrying.
Police said officers found several pairs of brand-new, high-dollar shoes inside the juveniles' backpacks, including Nike Air Jordans.
A total of 18 pairs of shoes were recovered.
Four Juveniles Charged With Burglary
Police arrested four juveniles, two 14-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old.
All four were charged with Burglary of a Habitation.
The 15-year-old accused of running from Officer Blakely was additionally charged with Evading Detention.
The juveniles were transported to a juvenile detention center and turned over to juvenile authorities.
Texarkana Police credited the neighbor's quick decision to report the suspicious activity with helping officers respond and locate the suspects.
Police said the case serves as a reminder for residents to call 911 when they observe suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
