HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials say for the second time in three weeks, Pike County authorities are searching for firearms which have been hidden in a Pike County community after a series of alleged gun crimes involving adults and juveniles
According to the Pike County Prosecutor’s Office, the office in conjunction with the Pike County Sheriff is asking parents to be diligent in supervising their children when playing and checking their backpacks and belongings when coming home from school.
April 18
Officials say on April 18, Alexzander Weyerbacher, 18, was arrested for Theft of Firearms, after a report of a string of car thefts of firearms in Otwell, Indiana overnight. According to a sworn affidavit filed by a detective of the Pike County Sheriffs Department, Weyerbacher admitted that he and a juvenile had been burglarizing houses and vehicles over the last week and a half, stealing multiple guns and that Weyerbacher and the juvenile had hidden tarps – one gray and one blue – containing the guns at two separate locations in the Sugar Ridge Road area and in the wood line near intersection of County Road 175 South and State Road 61 just north of Winslow.
Deputies say they have searched those areas, including with a canine, without locating the weapons and consider it possible that the guns may be located at any place where Weyerbacher and the juvenile have been. Officials say the two would have been traveling in a gold Lincoln passenger car during that time frame. This area would include Petersburg, Otwell, Winslow, Glezen and all areas in between.
The Pike County Prosecutor’s Office says, further, according to Weyerbacher, additional guns were stolen from burglaries in the Glezen area. Some pistols described by Weyerbacher have been confirmed to have been reported missing from specific vehicles in Otwell, however, no reports have been made as of yet corresponding with the thefts admitted by Weyerbacher of long guns and a revolver in the Glezen area.
Authorities note that if anyone has an unoccupied residence in that area where they keep firearms to please check it to determine if guns are missing and notify the Sheriffs Department of any irregularities at (812) 354-6024.
Authorities say a search warrant has been obtained to search other location known to be frequented by Weyerbacher, in hopes all guns can be accounted for. The juvenile was detained by Court Order, however, at least ten detention facilities had to be contacted before one accepted admission. Authorities say they are still investigating the role of other juveniles present at various times during the incident.
According to the Pike County Prosecutor’s Office, there is one unaccounted-for firearm from a March 31 incident.
March 31
Officials say previously, on March 31, in a separate incident involving a yet-to-be-located handgun, Michael Bradley, 18, and two juveniles had fled from a fire of a stolen car which had occurred at the Petersburg Main Street gas station causing a manhunt. During the course of that manhunt a Pike County deputy and a K9 unit recovered a .45 caliber pistol which had been discarded during the chase.
Authorities say Bradley had admitted to possessing a 9 mm pistol with red tape on the grip, which account was confirmed by photos recovered from one of the suspects’ phones. However, that gun was never recovered after diligent search. Officials say a state fire marshal searched the contents of the burned and melted car three times to attempt to confirm the whereabouts of that gun, but was unable to locate the weapon. Bradley has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Robbery with a Deadly Weapon and Theft of Automobile.
Officials say the “route of flight” for this incident would encompass all areas along Main Street in Petersburg in areas approximately one mile north of the intersection of State Road 61 and State Road 57, and additionally in the area of 11 and Spruce streets to the west of that location.
The Pike County Prosecutor’s Office says in that instance the two juveniles had to be released on Easter Weekend after eight separate juvenile facilities had denied admission between Evansville and Fort Wayne.
Authorities would like to remind the public to store firearms safely and lock their doors and talk with their children about dangers of firearms. People are asked to please call the Pike County Sheriffs office with any information about any of the unaccounted-for firearms (812) 354-6024.
