LPD arrests two after burglary call

By Mary Hinds

Aug 23, 2012 12:00 am

The Lebanon Police Department has arrested a man they say was attempting to burglarize homes in broad daylight and also found another fugitive in the process.

Monday at approximately 1:30 p.m., Lebanon Police officers responded to Waters Hill subdivision after receiving a call of an attempted burglary.

"It is likely that barking dogs scared the subject away," said LPD Chief Scott Bowen, explaining that the caller was alerted to the attempt to break into his house by his dogs. The caller then observed the suspect going to two other nearby homes and testing the windows and doors.

This same caller was able to give officers a description of the vehicle that fled the scene. Officer Jim Stroud spotted the vehicle at 2005 Lebanon Rd.

When he approached the vehicle, he observed a white male run inside the house. After some time, several subjects came out of the house, and officers were able to confirm that the subject who ran from the vehicle, Travis Montgomery, 32, of West Sunset Drive in Lebanon, was still inside.

Lt. Michael Van Hook, Cpl. Tim Murray, Det. Eugene McGee, and Sgt. Shane Petty entered the house and found both Montgomery and Owens.

"Officers saw the suspect go into the house. We were able to talk two individuals out of the house," Bowen said. "We made entry and found the suspect."

It was also confirmed that Allen Owens, 26, of Arbor Creek Boulevard in Nashville, who had a felony warrant out, was inside as well.

Montgomery was out on bond for a vandalism charge. Detectives have connected him to three other burglaries and charges will be filed at a later date. He is the prime suspect in several other burglaries and investigations are still ongoing, so further charges are possible.

"Montgomery has been involved in several burglaries over the last week or so," Bowen added. "One on the north end of town, and one in the area where he was found."

"We were able to recover a significant amount of property from the house," he explained. "He was just a thief, after whatever he could get his hands on."

Montgomery was charged with three counts of criminal attempt and evading. Owens was charged with violation of probation and felony evading.

Bowen also noted that his department had contacted the landlord of the Section 8 house the suspect was found in to start the process of getting him evicted.

"It's frustrating for us for the government to pay for someone to live there and harbor fugitives and use it as a place to stash his loot," he added. "There is no excuse for that."

He also said that the recovered property matches descriptions of stolen items reported to the department.

"We suspect we're going to be able to solve several more burglaries," Bowen said, adding that some things had already been returned to owners. "Luckily they were able to give us good descriptions and had given us serial numbers."

He added that if a person has good descriptions and serial numbers it increases the chances they will get your property back if it is stolen.

As always Bowen is not happy to see criminals repeat their crimes.

"It's frustrating. These are career criminals, whose only goal in life is to steal," he said. "We arrest them and they get out on bond and do it again. It's almost a revolving door."

He also called out people who buy stolen property.

"It's also the people who buy this stuff," he concluded. "If they didn't have a place to get rid of this stuff, they wouldn't be stealing it."

Staff writer Mary Hinds may be reached at 444-3952, ext. 45 or via email at maryhinds@lebanondemocrat.com