Wednesday, March 21, 2001

A suspect in a home burglary is in custody, according to the Mower County Sheriff’s Department.

A 37-year-old Racine man is being held in the Mower County Jail, pending a court appearance possibly later today.

He was apprehended late Tuesday night in Rochester by Olmsted County authorities.

His identity has not been released pending the court appearance, according to Chief Deputy Terese Amazi.

The suspect faces charges stemming from the home burglary at the Charles W. Brown rural Racine residence Monday.

According to a Mower County Sheriff’s Department report, a renter at the Brown residence arrived home Monday afternoon to discover the front door kicked open.

Further investigation revealed a quantity of handguns, rifles, muzzle-loaders and an assault rifle stolen as well as a safe and money.

Traffic stop nets drugs

Justin Loeding, 19 of Austin, faces multiple charges after a traffic stop at 1:19 a.m. Tuesday.

According to an Austin Police Department report, officers observed Loeding’s vehicle in traffic without brake lights.

The car was stopped and when Loeding refused to allow officers to search the vehicle, his furtive behavior caused officers to bring a canine unit to the vehicle for a search.

A quantity of methamphetamine drugs and drug paraphernalia, plus a large amount of cash and an address book listing names, phone numbers and the apparent amounts of money owned, was seized as well as Loeding’ car and the driver jailed.

According to the Austin Police Department, he faces felony possession of drug charges as well as charges of intent to distribute.

In addition he was charged with controlled substance driving while intoxicated.

Driver arrested

Blas Castillo, 32 of Austin, faces multiple charges after a hit and run accident at 12:11 a.m. Saturday.

Castillo was identified as a the driver of a vehicle, which turned in front of a vehicle driven by Suzanne Taylor, traveling east of Oakland Avenue East.

Other drivers witnesses the accident and one of them armed with a cell phone pursued Castillo’s car.

Taylor told an investigating officers she was en route to Austin Medical Center at the time of the mishap with a Michael Morris, 20.

A police officer followed the cell phone caller’s directions and went to a residence where Castillo was arrested.

He was charged with having no driver’s license and being an illegal alien among other violations.