Burglary at Auto Dealership Solved

LIBERTY, November 24, 2010 - On the early morning of Wednesday, November 17th, a Dodge truck was stolen from the Liberty-Dayton Chrysler Dealership in Liberty. The truck, belonging to a customer from Batson, had been parked near the dealership’s body shop garage. There was surveillance footage of the theft which aided the investigation.

Liberty Police Department Detective Barbie Miller was the case investigator. Working from case evidence and ongoing tips, Det. Miller believed the truck was going to be in the Lake Granada area, on County Road 1333. On Wednesday, November 24th, Det. Miller, along with Lt. Larry Beard and Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Ungles, went to the Fredrick Alex residence on CR 1333. While the truck couldn’t be seen from the road, the officers did hear what sounded like a sheet metal saw coming from behind the residence. It was there they found the suspect in the act of “chopping”, or disassembling the truck.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Officers secured the crime scene, and brought the suspect back to the PD for processing. The suspect was then taken to the Liberty County Jail.

Paul Best Jr., 29, of Moss Bluff, was booked-in for the offense of Theft. The charge is a 3rd degree felony, which is based on the value of the truck. Best will face a magistrate early Thanksgiving morning, at which time a bond will be set.

Det. Barbie Miller said, “This case generated some good leads. The tips we received, along with Deputy Ungles assistance, brought about a successful conclusion. With the truck actively being dismantled, another day or two and there might not have been a truck to recover.”

The theft case is still ongoing, with other arrests possible. The case on Paul Best Jr. will be turned over to the District Attorney the week of November 29th.

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