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LOGAN — A man suspected in several burglaries, who police say stole everything from high-end bicycles to packages of meat, now faces 33 criminal charges.
James Merritt, 32, of Logan, was arrested just before Christmas after allegedly trying to break into a North Park garage. He was originally charged on Dec. 28. Those charges were amended on Jan. 7 to include 15 counts of burglary or burglary of a vehicle, 16 counts of theft, assault and causing an accident that caused damage. Ten of the counts are second-degree felonies, five are third-degree felonies, 16 are class A misdemeanors and two are class B misdemeanors.
According to a search warrant affidavit unsealed Thursday, Merritt, dressed in all black and a ski mask, entered a garage that set off an alarm on Dec. 24. The homeowner reset the alarm but awoke when it went off again.
The homeowner "went out to the shop area and found a male going through his truck that was parked in the shop. (The homeowner) confronted the male with his handgun and ordered the male to stay put. The male took a replica 1911 handgun out of the truck and placed it on the floor. The male then charged at (the homeowner) and a wrestling match ensued," the warrant states.
The two separated and Merritt ran off as the homeowner called 911. When the homeowner went back outside, he saw Merritt trying to load a bicycle into his Jeep Cherokee. When he saw the homeowner coming, Merritt got back into his vehicle, told the homeowner "that he would never see him again in this area," and tried to drive off, but backed over a mailbox in the process, the affidavit states.
About 20 minutes later, police say Merritt was spotted at a nearby Wal-Mart.
As officers were questioning him, they reported seeing several packages of meat in plain view inside the vehicle from Kroger, Costco and other stores. "With these packages were also some home-packaged fish and other unknown items. These items are consistent with another victim who stated that they were missing several packages of meat out of their freezer. Also in plain view in the rear seat were two cases of Pepperidge Farm crackers that are from a distributor just down the block from the meat residence," the warrant states.
As Merritt was being transported to the Cache County Jail, an officer overheard him saying that "he had screwed up and that he did not know that a garage was a felony," according to the affidavit. Merritt later was allegedly heard asking "about what the penalty would be for skipping out of bail and leaving the state."
Investigators also found pictures on Merritt's cellphone of weapons and bicycles that were reported stolen and later were posted for sale on sites such as Craigslist and KSL.com, the warrant states.
