By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP – Managing Editor
A Brewton Police officer spoiled an attempted theft of furniture from a local trailer park and arrested one suspect after responding to a call of a suspicious vehicle last week.
Angelo M. Silvestri, 32, of 410 N. Forest Hill Drive, Brewton was arrested and charged with first degree theft after he allegedly drove from Harold Allen Trailer Park on Hwy. 31 south with several items of furniture.
Officer John Mabus responded to Spud's Convenient Store on Hwy. 31 after dispatch received a call of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arriving at the gas station, Mabus noticed the vehicle in the trailer park across the highway. According to Police Chief David Lovelace, Mabus watched as two people loaded furniture from a trailer unit into a truck.
Mabus watched as the suspects loaded the truck and drove out of the trailer park heading south on Hwy. 31. At that time, Mabus requested backup and pursued the truck to the Diamond Gas Station where he pulled it over.
The officer questioned the driver of the truck and asked for identification. At that time, he contacted the owner of the trailer park who told him the men did not have the authorization to remove the furniture.
At that point, Mabus arrested Silvestri. The passenger in the vehicle, a 25-year-old male, was not charged.
The two men had loaded two small sofas, two end tables, two lamps and two wall paintings on the truck.
Lovelace said the action taken by the officer ensured a successful arrest.