Burglar comes face-to-face with a rifle

GRAVETTE — A wouldbe burglar was surprised Tuesday, according to the Benton County Sheriff ’s Office.

Police said Jeremiah Meltzer, 20, of 7 Killdeer Road in Rogers was crawling through a garage window of a residence south of Gravette when he came face-toface with a rifle held by the homeowner’s son, Justin Martinez, who was home from college.

Meltzer and his friend, Mason Curtis, 19, of 16682 Stage Coach Road in Gravette left the house at 18036 Bethel Road while officers from the Sheriff’s Office and the Gravette Police Department were responding.

Officers corralled the two near the intersection of Stage Coach and Mount Olive roads. Suspected items of stolen property were found in the back of their pickup, police said.

During interviews with investigators, the pair admitted to several burglaries in Northwest Arkansas and Oklahoma, said Capt. Mike Sydoriak of the Sheriff ’s Office.

Deputies traveled to Muskogee, Okla., with one of the men, Sydoriak said. He pointed out several houses the pair burglarized.

Sydoriak said authorities in both states found items such as rifles, televisions, scooters and motorcycles the two men are suspected of stealing.

Meltzer and Curtis were being held Thursday in the Benton County Jail.

Meltzer is being held in connection with felony breaking or entering, two counts of felony residential burglary, two counts of felony theft of property, four counts of misdemeanor contempt, three counts of misdemeanor failure to appear and two counts of misdemeanor first-degree criminal mischief.

Meltzer has a bond of $3,230 on the misdemeanor counts. Bonds for the felony counts were not set Thursday. Meltzer also has warrants out of Rogers, Bentonville, Benton County, Fayetteville and Highfill.

Curtis is being held in connection with felony breaking or entering, two counts of felony residential burglary, two counts of felony theft of property, one count of felony criminal mischief and one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief.

There was no bond set Thursday for Curtis.

Sydoriak said other charges may be coming, including some in Oklahoma, as the investigation continues.