Deputies with the Newton County Sheriff's Office arrested four juveniles Jan. 6 after they broke into an empty home for sale on Hazelhurst Drive and caused more than $10,000 worth of damage to the property.
According to the incident report, four juveniles entered the home and broke 13 double-paned windows at the rear of the building, broke kitchen cabinets and damaged two interior doors up stairs.

All four perpetrators were charged with burglary and criminal damage to property. One juvenile was also charged with giving a false name and another with making false statements.

Another kind of vandalism

Deputies with the Newton County Sheriff's arrested a man Jan. 8 after he burglarized a home on Salem Road and defecated on the bedroom floors.

According to the incident report, when the homeowner arrived at the property, which had a sale sign in the front yard, he saw Ricky Summers coming out of the house. Summers asked the owner about the price of home and left.

Officers picked up Summers walking on a stretch of Salem Road near the home and he was placed in investigative detention. When officers arrived at the home with Summers in the back seat of the patrol car, the owner identified Summers as the man who walked out of the house.

When the owner and the officer entered the residence, there were folded clothes on the sofa and feces on the floor in two of the bedrooms. The home looked as if it had been lived in.

Summers denied going into the house, but said he was on the property because he was interested in finding out the price. He also said he did know whose clothes were on the sofa, but did admit to defecating on the floor. Officers reported smelling an odor of feces on the suspect.

Summers was transported to the Newton County Detention Center where he was charged with burglary.

Man shoplifts $45.05 from Dollar General

Officers with the Covington Police Department arrested a man Jan. 3 for shoplifting from the Dollar General on Highway 278. He was also issued a criminal trespass warning, which prevents him from going into any Dollar General location nationwide.

According to the incident report, a witness saw Thomas Marshall hide several items in his clothing, place them in his SUV that was parked in front of the store, and reenter the store.

Officers recovered 12 items, which were valued at $45.05, from the vehicle.
Marshall was transported to the Newton County Jail and charged with theft by shoplifting.

Driving error lands man in ditch, jail

Deputies with the Newton County Sheriff's Office arrested a Covington Man for DUI Dec. 30 after his car was found in a drainage ditch in front of a home on Oak Hill.

According to the incident report, Jesus Vilalbos-Trujillo said he pulled into the driveway to turn around and as he was backing up, his car fell into the ditch. The arresting deputy said when he was questioning Vilalbos-Trujillo, he could smell alcohol on his breath. When asked if he had anything to drink, Vilalbos-Trujillo said he had one beer and later said he had two beers.

Vilalbos-Trujillo was arrested and transported to the Newton County Jail, where he submitted a breath sample that measured .279.

He was charged with DUI and improper backing.