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Detective Ryan Black with the sheriff’s office said surveillance video shows a man they say is Berrien stealing two chain saws from the East Lawn and Garden Center in Champaign County about two weeks ago. The footage shows a man taking the chain saws up to the register.
When the employee turns his back, the man walks out of the store without paying. He can be seen sprinting out of the door and fleeing the scene in a truck.
“One of the chainsaws was valued right around $1,000 and the other one was $700,” Black said. “Say there wasn’t surveillance here — the probability or the chance of getting this case solved would’ve been really tough.”
Black said during the investigation, the sheriff’s office spoke with officials at London Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s Office who said Berrien was also wanted in connection with similar thefts in their jurisdictions.
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Berrien was arrested Monday night near the Drake Motel on Ohio 40 in Clark County, according to court records. An affidavit states deputies asked a woman in a room at the motel if Berrien was there, which she denied. When deputies searched the motel, they heard a loud noise come from the bathroom.
“The noise heard was Justin (Berrien) climbing out of the bathroom window with a cross bow,” according to a report from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies chased Berrien, who was holding a crossbow, around the area outside of the motel. He was eventually put on the ground and a bag of marijuana was found in his mouth. Once in custody, Berrien kicked the window of the sheriff’s cruiser, causing it to partially pop out, the affidavit states.
Not guilty pleas were also entered in court for charges relating to his arrest including possession of drugs, resisting arrest and vandalism.
Berrien was taken to the Clark County Jail where he remained on Tuesday evening, held on $6,000 bond.
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