TPD Arrests Man Suspected Of Westlawn Middle Burglaries

Tuscaloosa AL

17 December, 2020

12:58 PM

Description

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — The Tuscaloosa Police Department on Thursday announced the arrest of a man suspected of breaking into Westlawn Middle School twice during the school's Thanksgiving break. TPD says Ronnie Earl Melton, 60, was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary on Monday. Click here to subscribe to our daily email newsletters and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices for free. You can also support local journalism by donating as little as $5 a month to become a supporting member or by downloading our free Patch mobile app "School staff reported that someone broke into the school and stole a desktop computer on the night of Nov. 23," said department spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor in a press release. "The same man is seen on surveillance video taking a laptop computer, a large quantity of chips and a bag of gum on Nov. 26." The department then said both an investigator with TPD's Juvenile Division and a west precinct patrol officer recognized Melton from the video. He was then located and taken into custody on Monday. As of Thursday, Melton remained in the county jail with bond set at $30,000 and could face further charges. Taylor said officers are still conducting an investigation into the break-ins of two school buses parked on the school property. Additionally, investigators believe hand sanitizer and first aid items were stolen from the buses on Dec. 12. Follow Patch here for updates or on Facebook and Twitter.