STILLWATER — A 38-year-old Cleveland man has been accused of breaking into a Stillwater residence in the 1000 block of S. Walnut Street through an unlocked garage door and using a ladder to enter the attic with the intent to steal property including pajama pants and a smartwatch — while he was intoxicated.
Dustin Lyle Mitchell was wearing black and red pajama pants, a multicolored stocking cap, one black glove, a white Samsung Galaxy watch, and no shoes, when he was arrested at 4:40 p.m. on Sept. 8, in a backyard a few blocks away from the crime scene, according to Stillwater Police Officer Cory Westbrook.
Mitchell was jailed on $2,500 bond pending an Oct. 6 court appearance on a Payne County charge of second-degree burglary and public intoxication. If convicted of both counts, Mitchell could be given up to seven years in prison plus 30 days in jail.
In his affidavit, Westbrook said, ”Once inside the garage, it appears as though the suspect then climbs a ladder leading into the attic space. Once inside the attic, the suspect moves in a southward direction through insulation. The suspect appears to fall through the ceiling into the eastern room within the residence, at least to some extent, as there is a large amount of ceiling and insulation on the ground within the room.
'The suspect is believed to have pulled himself back into the attic after nearly falling completely through the ceiling and then continuing south where he completely falls through the ceiling and into the southeast bedroom onto the bed.
'Once within the home, the suspect at some point drinks two special edition Red Bull white peach drinks. The suspect moves multiple items to the front living area including wallet and debit cards. The suspect stages multiple items on the front porch area. 'Both bedrooms' ceilings had collapsed and caused extensive damage. (A resident) found his computer to have been landed on and destroyed when the suspect fell through the ceiling. I was able to observe and document[sic] footprints in the area by taking photographs,' the officer said in his affidavit.
Westbrook stated he had been sent at 4:17 p.m. to the 1000 block of S. Walnut Street where a neighbor 'stated he observed the suspect, later identified as Dustin Lyle Mitchell, in the front yard wearing black and red pajama pants. He stated he also observed the white male suspect to be wearing a multicolored stocking cap and observed him to have facial hair. He advised me he remembered the suspect to be wearing a black glove on one hand and found him to be disoriented as he left the area walking west on 10th Avenue.
'Dispatch then received a call from (a woman in the 1000 block of S. McDonald) stating there was a white male in her backyard and requested police respond to the area. Upon arrival, I heard Officer Devore state over the radio that he had the male in the backyard at gunpoint. Officer Devore stated the male appeared unsteady on his feet, and he observed him to have a thick, slurred speech and red watery eyes when speaking to him. The homeowner on McDonald stated she did not wish to pursue charges of any kind. She stated she believed that the male had been on her roof.'
According to Pawnee County court records, Dustin Lyle Mitchell had been charged on Sept. 8 with misdemeanor counts of marijuana possession, having drug paraphernalia and resisting a Cleveland police officer; he was jailed for six days when he was released on a medical personal recognizance bond. The Pawnee County case against Mitchell was dismissed by the prosecution on Sept. 16 while he was in the Payne County Jail, court records show.