Published: August 19, 2008 01:27 pm         

Tip leads to teen arrest

A weekend call of a possible after-hours break-in at a well traveled Pauls Valley spot led to the discovery of a teenager who was allegedly looking for some private drug use time.

That’s what PV authorities found when they responded to Sunday night’s burglary call at the local Santa Fe Depot located in the 200 block of East Paul.

Inside the train facility’s restrooms there was a hiding 18-year-old Steven Pennypacker of Chickasha, who police officers reported went inside to smoke a marijuana “joint.”

After being tipped off officers were dispatched to the depot at 9:24 p.m. on the possibility of a burglary in progress — specifically at the restrooms there.

There they found one of the doors slightly open, which meant someone was either inside or had been there earlier.

“I had prior knowledge that the door only unlocks when the Heartland Flyer pulls in to the station,” officer Gavin Thompson stated in his report.

Moments later a male subject was seen opening the bathroom door and “sneaking up to the other window to peak out.”

Thompson claimed to then order the subject, soon identified as Pennypacker, to come to the door.

When Pennypacker turned the officer couldn’t see the subject’s hands, prompting Thompson to pull his service weapon.

Putting his hands up immediately, the teen was led outside the facility where he was handcuffed and taken into custody.

Reports show Pennypacker initially denied smoking any marijuana in the restroom even though officers found an odor of that particular drug in the area where he had been just before his arrest.

Authorities said he later admitted to driving to the depot facility and simply opened a door that was not secured — a claim later confirmed by officers at the scene.

Once inside the train restroom Pennypacker claimed to smoke half of a marijuana cigarette before the headlights of approaching cars signaled to him police were just outside.

Officers reported they asked about and were told by the suspect he had marijuana in his vehicle. There they found two hand-rolled cigarettes in a lunchbox.

A confession from the suspect is reported to have come just before he was booked into custody. He is expected to face municipal charges as a result of the incident.

     

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