From left, Dorian Decker and Wyatt O'Brien were arrested in connection to two of several burglaries in Middletown, Calif., last week. Four juveniles were arrested for five other burglaries, according to sheriff's officials.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Thursday the Lake County Sheriff's Office offered details of the investigation into a string of burglaries committed this past weekend in the Middletown area, which resulted in the arrest of two adults and four juveniles.

The report, from Capt. James Bauman, credited the work of Middletown community service Deputy Dennis Keithly in the case.

Bauman said that, altogether, seven burglaries were solved as a result of the arrests.

He said the investigation began in the early morning hours of Monday, July 11, at approximately 3:30 a.m., when a sheriff’s vehicle was stuck by an egg as a graveyard deputy was patrolling the Middletown area on Highway 29 near the Hardester’s Market.

When the deputy stopped to investigate, he began checking businesses in the area and heard someone moving around on the roof of the Cowpoke Café, Bauman said.

When the deputy checked that business, he located a shoe print on top of a trash can that had apparently been used to access the roof of the business. Bauman said the deputy checked the roof of the business but was unable to locate any suspects.

When Keithly took over investigating the circumstances later that same morning, he found more shoe prints and several cartons of eggs on the roof of the Cowpoke Café, Bauman said. While checking with local citizens around town, one man revealed that he had seen several juveniles on the roof of Noble’s Liquors two days prior.

Further investigation led to the identity of three Middletown juveniles – a 14-year-old female, a 15-year-old female and a 17-year-old male, all of whom were determined to have been on the roof of Nobles Liquors on July 8, Bauman said. The same three juveniles also were alleged to have been on the roof of the Cowpoke Café the previous night.

When Keithly contacted the juveniles, his investigation further revealed that all three allegedly were involved in the burglaries of several Middletown businesses over the weekend and two other burglaries previously reported in March of this year, Bauman said.

Beulah’s Kitchen on Calistoga Street had been broken into on the night of July 10. Bauman said the cartons of eggs previously found on the roof of the Cowpoke Café were taken from the restaurant, as well as a bag containing approximately $75 in coins.

The Bunk House gift shop, also on Calistoga Street, had been broken into on the night of July 9. Bauman said purses, wallets and items of jewelry valued at approximately $175 were taken.

The Shangri La restaurant on Calistoga Street had been broken into on two separate occasions between July 6 and July 9, Bauman said. An unknown amount of cash was taken from the cash register during the first burglary and more than $600 worth of food and beer was taken during the second burglary.

Funtopia toy store on Calistoga Street had been broken into on the night of March 10. Currency, toys and other merchandise valued at over $550 were stolen during the burglary, according to Bauman.

The Olive Tree Spa & Salon on Calistoga Street had been broken into on the night of March 11. Bauman said hair care products, cosmetics and other merchandise valued at more than $1,870 were reportedly taken during that burglary.

Bauman said all three juveniles were arrested and booked at the Lake County Juvenile Hall on charges of burglary and receiving stolen property.

Shortly after booking the three juveniles, Keithly returned to Middletown to follow up on further leads he had developed that morning, Bauman said.

Further investigation by Keithly revealed that 18-year-old Dorian Jay Decker allegedly had been involved in both burglaries of the Shangri La restaurant, and that 18-year-old Wyatt Joseph O’Brien had allegedly been involved in one of the Shangri La burglaries. Bauman said a 16-year-old male juvenile also was tied to one of the Shangri La burglaries.

Throughout the afternoon, Decker, O’Brien and the fourth juvenile all were located and arrested for burglary, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy. Bauman said Decker and O’Brien were booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and the juvenile was booked at the Lake County Juvenile Hall.

In the course of investigating the last three suspects, Keithly learned that the mother of the juvenile male he had arrested that morning had found a rifle and ammunition in her son’s closet after he had been arrested, Bauman said. Further investigation revealed that those items had been taken in the early morning hours of July 11 during the burglary of an apartment on Barnes Street.

Bauman said all three juveniles initially arrested in the morning were charged with that burglary as well.

Sheriff Frank Rivero expressed his deepest gratitude to Keithly for his “diligent and expedient investigation” into the rash of burglaries.

Rivero reportedly appointed by Keithly as the Middletown/Cobb Mountain community service deputy earlier this year.

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