St. George man charged for alleged overnight vehicle burglaries in Washington City

WASHINGTON CITY, Utah (ABC4) — A 34-year-old St. George man has been arrested and charged in connection with a string of vehicle burglaries committed over the weekend.

Cody Jared Russon, 34, is facing eight felony charges and nine misdemeanors in connection with the vehicle burglaries. His charges include theft of a firearm or an operable motor vehicle, unlawful acquisition and possession of a financial card, theft valued between $1,500 and $4,999 and burglary of a vehicle.

According to documents, the Washington City Police Department received three reports of vehicle burglaries in the Washington Fields Area, located in the southern part of the city, on June 14.

The first report came in around 10 a.m. from a U.S. service member. They reported their handgun, military equipment and other miscellaneous items were stolen from their vehicle. Police believe that the vehicle was left unlocked, and surveillance footage revealed a gray or silver SUV passing the residence at roughly 3:47 a.m.

Around 11:30 a.m. on June 14, another report came in to the Washington City Police Department. The victim said that items including a handgun, Utah driver’s license, Utah concealed permit card and cologne were stolen from their vehicle. Police believe that this vehicle was also left unlocked. The victim told police that their debit card was used at a supermarket around 6:30 a.m.

The Washington City Police officer contacted the supermarket where the debit card was used, and they provided surveillance footage to the officer. The suspect was identified as a white male with red facial hair, a tan beanie, and recognizable tattoos on his left arm.

The third report came into the police department just before 2 p.m. This victim said that their paper-copy Utah driver’s license, Utah driver’s license card, four financial cards and other items were stolen from their vehicle. The victim also told police that their cards had been used at Walmart. The time the cards were used matched the surveillance footage collected for the second report.

Another officer at the Washington City Police Department recognized the suspect on surveillance video, as he had previously attempted to serve court paperwork to the suspect and believed it was Russon. Officers pulled records on Russon’s address, vehicle and place of work. He owned a silver SUV that matched the one seen on surveillance footage, documents say.

Police visited Russon’s place of work and conducted an interview with him after reading him his Miranda Rights. Russon stated that he was sleeping at his residence this morning, and his roommates would not be able to say whether or not he was there because they were asleep when he left. He allegedly told police that he only stopped at a gas station before going to work.

The officer showed Russon the capture taken from surveillance footage, and Russon claimed that it wasn’t him. According to documents, the officer asked if he could check his vehicle, and Russon declined and said he could not look without a lawyer. Officers placed Russon under arrest and recovered methamphetamine and a pipe from his person before he was put into the police vehicle.

Documents say that Russon asked officers if there was any way to speed the process up, and they responded that because he had asked for a lawyer, they were filling out a search warrant and would not ask him any questions. Russon “asked in essence if he was able to not request a lawyer anymore.”

According to police, they clarified Russon’s right to counsel to him multiple times, and he repeatedly said that he would speak to them without a lawyer present. They read Russon his Miranda Rights again, and he waived his rights to counsel.

Russon asked the officer what they were searching for, and he described a list of the stolen property, including firearms, military gear and financial cards. According to documents, Russon allegedly told police that all of the stolen property was in his vehicle and gave police permission to search it.

Officers located the stolen property from the three reports, as well as additional valuable items. Russon allegedly confirmed to police that he had other stolen property in the vehicle, but could not remember when or where they were stolen.

Russon was booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility on June 14 and is currently being held with bail.