A 23 year old man, initially arrested Monday by Smithville Police for vandalism, has also been identified as the person responsible for an armed robbery last Friday at the home of W.J. Page at 826 Anthony Avenue, in which a $70 watch was stolen.
Lieutenant Steven Leffew, Officer in Charge of the Smithville Police Department, says 23 year old Justin R. Lohorn of Short Mountain Street, Smithville is charged by Smithville Police with one count of aggravated robbery, one count of theft of property, two counts of vandalism, and a first offense of driving on a suspended license. Sheriff Patrick Ray says his department has also charged Lohorn with one count of vandalism and one count of theft under $500. Total bond for Lohorn is $71,000 and he will appear in General Sessions Court on December 17th.
Lohorn is accused of vandalizing vending machines Monday, December 7th at Larry’s Discount Grocery on West Broad Street, It’s All About Looks on Dry Creek Road, and at the Mystick Market on Highway 56 south.
According to Lieutenant Leffew, Lohorn became as a suspect in the Page robbery after being arrested in the vandalism cases. Smithville Police Officer Matt Holmes and Detective Mike Billings of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation after the initial arrest of Lohorn by Smithville Police Officer Nathan Estes.
According to police reports, “Officer Estes responded to a vandalism complaint at 625 Dry Creek Road (It’s All About Looks) on Monday where the owner of the business reported that a drink machine had been damaged. Officer Estes got a description of the vehicle leaving the scene and later spotted it on Highway 70 west. He stopped the automobile and spoke to the driver, Lohorn. A check of his drivers license found them to be suspended. Also found in the front seat of Lohorn’s vehicle were four hammers, two knives, bolt cutters, and a tire wrench.” He was taken into custody and charged with the vandalism of the vending machines at both It’s All About Looks and at Larry’s Discount Grocery. He was also charged with a first offense of driving on a suspended license.
In the incident at Larry’s Discount Grocery, the arrest warrant states that on Monday, December 7th “Lohorn did vandalize two drink machines by taking bolt cutters and cutting off two locks. He also caused damage to one of the machines by prying on it with a pry bar.”
In the robbery case, the arrest warrant against Lohorn states that “he did commit aggravated robbery by confronting W.J. Page who was leaving his residence at 826 Anthony Avenue, Smithville by using a handgun and telling Page to give him his wallet and watch. Lohorn gave a written statement confessing to the robbery. A gun and the watch were recovered at Lohorn’s residence.”
On the theft charge, the arrest warrant alleges that ” Lohorn did take a watch by gunpoint in a robbery from Page who was exiting his home at 826 Anthony Avenue, Smithville. Lohorn did admit to robbing Mr. Page and taking the watch, which was recovered from Lohorn residence. The value of the watch is $70.”
In the case against Lohorn filed by the sheriff’s department, the arrest warrant states that “On December 7th, Lohorn did vandalize a drink machine at Mystick Market on McMinnville Highway. He broke into the machine, causing damage to the front and inside, estimated at $1,800. Lohorn was also charged with theft of property under $500 for allegedly taking 31 one dollar bills from the drink machine at Mystick Market. He has admitted to taking that money.”
Lieutenant Leffew says he is grateful for the cooperation between the city police and county sheriff’s departments in this investigation.”I would like to extend my gratitude to Sheriff Ray and County Detective Billings for their assistance in this matter. I’m very pleased with the combined effort of the police department and the sheriff’s department in bringing this case to a close.”
Lieutenant Leffew also commended Smithville Police Officers Estes and Holmes for their part in solving the crimes.
The armed robbery at the Page residence was reported to central dispatch at 4:49 a.m. Friday morning.
Smithville Police Officer Scott Davis, in his report that morning, states “I was dispatched to 826 Anthony Avenue in reference to a robbery. Upon my arrival, I made contact with the complainant, W.J. Page who stated that he was going to his garage when an unknown male with a mask and a camouflage coat came out from behind his truck and pointed something at him and stated “give me your money, wallet, watch” or words to that affect. Mr. Page stated that he threw his watch toward him and started running toward his house. Mr. Page stated that the suspect ran toward J.E. Evins Avenue. A search of the area by Sergeant Joey Jones and Deputy Barrett and myself (Davis) could not locate the suspect.”
The suspect was described as a male, 5′ 9 to 5′ 10 inches tall, average build, wearing a mask, a camo jacket, and possibly armed with an unknown type of gun/knife.
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