Video helps troopers solve burglary

MAT-SU -- A home security device linked to a video recording camera has helped Alaska State Troopers arrest a Wasilla man believed responsible for a residential burglary.

Troopers took Edgar O. Sims III, 21, into custody Saturday following a two-month investigation. He is charged with two counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree theft in the Sept. 17 burglary of a Houston home.

Trooper Dave Willson said Monday that a security system with a motion detector tripped a video camera in the home, recording Sims and three other men who apparently had broken into the house.

"Four people were identified as suspects, and two of the individuals were carrying shotguns," Willson said. "They stole alcohol, a firearm, electronics and a big screen TV all valued at $4,000."

Sims was contacted when members of the Southcentral Special Emergency Reaction Team served a search warrant at his home on Wesglenn Drive. The SERT squad includes personnel from the troopers, Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement, Palmer Police Department, Wasilla Police Department and Anchorage Airport Police.

Sims was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on the four Houston charges as well as an outstanding warrant from Anchorage Police Department. Bail was set at $50,150 cash-only and a court-approved third-party custodian.

Troopers are searching for the other suspects, Willson said. The investigation is a cooperative effort between the troopers' patrol and burglary units, and the Alaska Bureau of Investigation.

In a separate case, on Friday, troopers arrested Shawn P. Welch, 44, of Anchorage for first-degree robbery. He was contacted after Mat-Su troopers received a tip that Welch was in the area and had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants on unrelated charged of driving with a revoked license.

After stopping Welch on the warrants, troopers recognized a leather coat he was wearing as similar to the one worn by the man who robbed the Williams Express gas station at Mile 49 Parks Highway on Oct. 15, troopers said in a press release.

"The robbery was caught on tape by the store's camera system, and Welch also matched the physical characteristics of the suspect in the video," according to the press release.

He was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in lieu of $5,000 bail and court-approved third-party custodian. Welch also was ordered not to have contact with the victims, and to say at least 200 feet away from Williams Express.