Police: Man broke into site of drug bust to find leftovers

Most burglars take TVs, DVD players and iPods.

Cape Girardeau police say Anthony L. Wilkins broke into the site of a marijuana raid Thursday night hoping to find leftovers after reading about the bust in the Southeast Missourian.

The article, which was published Aug. 29, concerned a marijuana-growing operation at 1212 Good Hope St. Police said they found thriving and harvested marijuana plants in various stages of growth and processing. As a result of the raid, police arrested Ryan N. Curey, 33, of the Good Hope address, and Glenn A. King, 32, of Hickman, Ky.

According to a probable-cause statement by Cpl. Jeff Bonham, Wilkins, 21, of Cape Girardeau told police he had read the suspects were in jail and decided to break into the house and see if any marijuana had been left behind.

He rode his bicycle to the house and gained entry through an unlocked door, he told police.

After searching the house fruitlessly for about 10 minutes, Wilkins found a pair of blue jeans near the back door and rummaged through the pockets, looking for marijuana, according to the probable-cause statement. While he came up dry on drugs, police say he pocketed five credit cards he found in the jeans.

According to the sworn statement, he stuffed a black duffel bag with stolen property, ran out onto the balcony and spotted a police officer with a flashlight on the lawn. Wilkins leaped off the balcony onto the grass and began running along the east side of the lawn, dropping the duffel bag.

Police, who had responded to a call of a possible break-in by a man who was feeding the animals for the homeowner while he's in jail, apprehended Wilkins on the lawn.

Wilkins is charged with felony stealing and second-degree burglary. He is being held at the Cape Girardeau County Jail on $15,000 bond.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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