Police: Pair spotted clearing out North Buffalo garage jailed on felony burglary charges
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Two people were arrested on burglary charges after a North Buffalo police officer noticed a strange vehicle parked outside a home and saw the pair carrying items out of the garage.
Ivan Dwight Shankle, 45, of the 900 block of East First Street in Rural Valley, and Meranda Slagle, 18, of the 400 block of Highland Avenue in Kittanning, each were charged with felony counts of burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit burglary.
They were being detained in the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 cash bond each, according to court records. Preliminary hearings on the charges are scheduled before District Judge J. Gary DeComo on Tuesday, March 7.
An officer patrolling along Pony Farm Road shortly before 4 p.m. Feb. 23 spotted a gray Toyota parked near a home in the 300 block that previously had been burglarized, according to a criminal complaint.
The vehicle was filled with items, police said. When the officer went to the house, he saw Shankle holding the garage door open while Slagle was passing items to him.
When the officer asked them what they were doing, they both responded they were “taking stuff” out of the home. They admitted it didn’t belong to them and said they “had no idea” who owned the residence, the complaint said.
Police said Slagle began crying and said she “would put everything back and was sorry,” the complaint said.
An officer contacted the homeowner. The homeowner told police Shankle and Slagle did not have permission to be in the house and requested charges be filed, the complaint said.
Police said the vehicle was impounded and towed. The rear and front passenger seats were filled with items taken from the house, and a pile of items ready to be loaded was stacked near the car, according to investigators.