By KALIN KROHE
Panhandle Post
On Dec. 4 at 5: 29 p.m. Chadron police officers Zach Klemp and Seth Orsborn were called the 100 block of Pine Street, as a concerned homeowner reported they had found a firearm inside the residence, behind a couch.
"[They] believed they knew who had placed it [firearm] there," Chadron Police Chief Rick Hickstein said. "The suspect was also believed to be present at the residence when the reporting party called."
The officers arrived on scene and met with the reporting party and 34-year-old Thomas Catches.
Catches was interviewed and admitted to bringing the firearm into the residence.
"It was also learned the firearm had been stolen during a burglary, earlier in the day, at a Chadron residence located on North Main Street," Hickstein said. "There had in fact been 3 firearms stolen during the burglary."
Officer Klemp and Orsborn were able to confirm through the Chadron Communication Center that Catches was a prohibited person for possessing firearms as well.
"The investigation continued and information was obtained that led Officer Klemp and Officer Orsborn to apply for and obtain search warrants for two separate residences in Chadron," Hickstein said. "The search warrants were served at a residence on the 100 block of Pine Street and a residence on the 300 block of North Pine Street. During the service of the search warrants, the officers were able to recover all 3 stolen firearms from the reported burglary from the residence on North Main Street."
The firearms recovered included a .224 semi-auto rifle, a .300 Win. Magnum, and a .17 HMR.
Three people were placed under arrest as a result of this investigation.
34-year-old Thomas Catches was arrested and transported to the Dawes County Jail for Burglary (Class IIA Felony), Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Prohibited Person (Class ID felony) and Possession of Stolen Firearm (Class IIA Felony). Bond was set at 10% of $10,000.00.
60-year-old Arvella Catches was arrested and transported to the Dawes County Jail for Conspiracy to Commit Burglary (Class II Felony) and Possession of a Stolen Firearm (Class IIA Felony).
Arvella was released on a PR bond.
57-year-old Lance Brewer was arrested for Possession of a Stolen Firearm (Class IIA Felony). Brewer's bond was set at 10% of $10,000.00.