PARKERSBURG - The city's major crimes unit arrested of two people Thursday in a weekend break-in at the Big Sandy Superstore.
Parkersburg police Capt. Delmas Barker said John Piersol, 34, and Tasha Ault, 20, were arrested Tuesday, charged with breaking and entering.
The Davisville couple is accused of stealing 11 flat screens televisions, two DVD players and a digital converter box from the Big Sandy Superstore on Garfield Avenue.
Barker said Piersol was initially apprehended Monday night during a routine traffic stop. He was a passenger in a truck with no license plates. Parkersburg police Lt. John Young said Piersol had outstanding warrants for forgery and uttering.
Barker said Ault was in magistrate court awaiting Piersol's arraignment on the outstanding warrants when she was approached by detectives.
"We asked her to come over and talk to us," Young said.
Barker said during the interview Ault admitted to the break-ins, which led to the pair's arrest. The duo, which forced their way into the building, were captured on the store's security video during the robbery.
Law enforcement officials also tied the Davisville duo to a weekend break-in at Burdette Motors, on Seventh Street. The pair is alleged to have stolen a television, a small amount of cash and a dealer tag.
Ault was released on a $40,000 surety bond on Tuesday. Piersol remains in custody.
Baker said police were still recovering stolen property from a George Street neighborhood frequented by Piersol and Ault,
During the traffic stop, police determined the vehicle, a 2007 red GMC quad-cab truck, was stolen from Singer Sheet Metal. Police are not yet releasing the name of the driver, but Barker said he was charged with driving on a suspended license. And more charges are anticipated.
Police are also still searching for another 2007 red GMC quad-cab truck that is believed to have been stolen from the defunct Singer Sheet Metal. The company was forced into closure in mid-May. Young said the business' assets were in possesion of the bank.
"We recovered two trucks that nobody even knew were missing," Young said. The West Virginia State Police recovered one of the stolen trucks on Laurel Fork.
Police are investigating a possible link between Ault and Piersol and the thefts from Singer Sheet Metal.
