Athens-Clarke County police said they arrested a man and two teens in separate entering auto incidents early Friday morning after concerned citizens reported suspicious activity at two apartment complexes.
The first incident was reported at about 12:48 a.m. at University Oaks off West Broad Street where a witness s indicated that a white male was in the apartment complex’s parking lot pulling on vehicle door handles, police said.
The witness directed officers to an area where the suspect was last seen and subsequently arrested.
Police identified the suspect as 24-year-old Jefferson resident Joseph Kelly, who was charged with three counts of entering an automobile with the intent to commit a felony and one count of loitering or prowling.
In the second incident, police said that officers responded at about 1:23 a.m. to The Summit of Athens on Barnett Shoals Road where a caller reported four males were seen pulling on vehicle door handles.
During a search of the area officers located two suspects who matched the caller’s descriptions, and they were arrested after a short foot chase, according to police.
One suspect was a 15-year-old boy who was ordered detained by the state Department of Juvenile Justice and transported to the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center.
The adult suspect, 19-year-old Quartez Jaquan Clarke of Burkland Drive, was charged with entering an automobile with the intent to commit a felony and loitering or prowling.
According to police, Clark was on felony probation for offenses related to previous entering auto cases and illegal possession of firearms.
Auto and Loitering and Prowling. Clarke is currently on Felony Probation for offenses related to Entering Auto and Possession of Firearms.
Police reminded in a press release announcing the three arrests that people should remove all valuables from their vehicles, especially weapons, during the overnight hours.
Police also encouraged more citizens to call 911 when they see suspicious activity.