Father, son arrested on suspicion of burglarizing Bollinger County homes

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A tip from an alert neighbor led to the arrest of a father and son from Climax Springs, Mo., in at least two burglaries that occurred in Bollinger County.

Mark Allen Sousley, 49, and his son, Joseph Thomas Sousley, 27, were arrested Wednesday afternoon in Marble Hill after an eyewitness in Patton identified the two and the Chevrolet pickup they were in.

The witness told authorities he had seen the truck and the two men coming out of a neighbor's home, said Bollinger County Sheriff Leo McElrath. Deputy Della Moore spotted the two men driving on Highway 51, and radioed for backup officers to stop the two and detain them until she could match them with the description given.

Marble Hill Police stopped the truck around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday near the Crooked Creek bridge. McElrath said a search of the vehicle turned up evidence of two burglaries -- the one in Patton and another reported near the Bollinger/Perry county line. The men had apparently been breaking into homes and stealing only jewelry and silver, "anything that could be melted down or easily fenced," McElrath said. The sheriff said he believes the value of the stolen goods could amount to enough to charge the suspects with a felony.

It is unknown if the men had broken into any other buildings in Bollinger County or any other county in the area. Stoddard County deputies tried without success to question the men about their possible involvement in burglaries in that area, McElrath. The matter remains under investigation.

Both Sousleys are in the Bollinger County jail awaiting warrants; their truck has been impounded.

Some of the stolen items found in their truck have been identified by their owners, McElrath said.