Geneva suspect busy

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

August 18, 2008 10:57 pm

— GENEVA — A Geneva man was released from the Geneva City Jail Monday following a two-day burglary spree last week that included an after-hours break-in at Giant Eagle, Geneva police reports show.
Brian Sullivan, 21, of Austin Road was already sitting in the jail on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, trespassing, criminal mischief and attempting to enter a vehicle Wednesday night when police suspected he was involved in the burglary, police reports show.
Geneva Giant Eagle manager Bill Baker called police Thursday and said store cameras caught two men sneaking into the store three times Wednesday. The men, Baker said, stole $79.95 in liquor and beer.
Video surveillance shows two men with their shirts over their noses and chins rush into the store through the unlocked back door at 10 p.m. Wednesday. Making several trips, the men took cases of beer out the back door, all while hiding their faces from the cameras, police reports show.
A store employee eventually caught the men and chased them from the store.
Later Wednesday night, officers arrested Sullivan and a 17-year-old counterpart for breaking into cars at Walnut Circle Apartments.
As officers investigated the Giant Eagle break-in Thursday morning, they recognized Sullivan and his light blue T-shirt on the surveillance footage. During questioning, Sullivan reportedly confessed to officers about the grocery store break-in, police reports show.
Ashtabula County assistant prosecutor Harold Spect indicated additional charges of breaking and entering are pending against Sullivan for the beer heist, police reports show.
The juvenile was charged with curfew, witness intimidation, underage drinking, attempting to enter a vehicle, criminal mischief and trespassing for the car break-ins, police reports show.