Police arrested a Warnerville man believed to be connected with at least five break-ins in Middleburgh and Broome after a two-county, 12-hour manhunt that began in Richmondville, continued to Albany County.
Troopers eventually arrested Richard Christian on Main Street, Middleburgh, last Tuesday afternoon.
Princetown State Police said they developed information that Mr. Christian, 33, of Route 7, possessed property stolen from several home break-ins, including one at a recently built log cabin off of Clauverwie Road in Middleburgh in January.
Police said they executed a search warrant at his home in the Town of Richmondville at about 6pm last Monday. Troopers recovered a flat screen television, tools, electronics, and auto parts.
When Mr. Christian, who is on parole on unspecified charges, arrived home at 8pm and saw troopers at his home, he fled in a 1998 Acura that had been reported stolen in New York City on February 18, police said.
He had switched the license plates on the Acura and had replaced the rims and tires with four stolen tires and rims from a vehicle in Middleburgh, troopers said.
Trooper Mark McTague, from the Princetown barracks, saw Mr. Christian at 10:30pm last Monday driving eastbound on Route 20 in Guilderland and pursued him onto Route 146 toward Altamont, police said.
Mr. Christian lost control of his car on Route 156 and it ran off the road and struck a tree, police said.
Mr. Christian left the vehicle and fled into a wooded area where troopers, Albany County Sheriff’s deputies and Guilderland Police officers tracked him along the Bozen Kill in the Town of Knox, police said. A State Police aviation unit and a K-9 unit assisted in the search.
Mr. Christian then stole a second vehicle, a 1994 Jeep Cherokee from a home on Bozen Kill Road and left the area, according to police.
Troopers said they caught up with Mr. Christian last Tuesday afternoon on Main Street in Middleburgh as he was attempting to flee to New York City. Troopers later recovered the stolen 1994 Jeep in the Village of Middleburgh.
State Police Investigator William John said that Mr. Christian is suspected of being involved in at least five break-ins in Middleburgh, Broome and Gilboa for the past three weeks.
Police are still developing information to determine how many break-ins there were and to determine who else was involved, Investigator John said Friday.
Apparently, Mr. Christian would go to New York City, where he had relatives, to get rid of some of the property, Investigator John said.
Police said Mr. Christian was arrested for the burglaries and after being apprehended in Middleburgh was sent to jail on a parole violation warrant.
Investigator John said that Mr. Christian has had several felony convictions, some from Schoharie County.
Schoharie County District Attorney James Sacket and the State Police will charge Mr. Christian with additional felonies after the completion of their investigation, police said.
In addition, the Albany County Sheriff’s office, the Albany County District Attorney’s office and State Parole are reviewing the case and additional charges are anticipated, police said.
On Monday, police said they are still gathering evidence.
Police suspect Mr. Christian of breaking into a Middleburgh log cabin on Clauverwie the night of January 28-29 and stealing about $5,000 in property, including four flat-screen TVs and chain saws. There was also about $5,000 in damage to the electrical service and alarm system in the home.