Springfield man accused of breaking into sporting goods store

A Springfield man is accused of breaking into a Springfield sporting goods store.

Richard Williams, 35, is charged in Clark County Municipal Court with breaking and entering. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and his bond was set at $5,000, according to court records.

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Police began their investigation on June 13 when they were called to World of Sporting Goods at 868 E. Main St., according to an affidavit filed with the charge. Officers met with the owner’s daughter who told her she caught two men in the act of burglarizing the store. One man, who had tattoos, was loading the car and the other was sitting in the driver’s seat of a yellow Chevy Spark.

“(The owner’s daughter) advised she pulled in behind the yellow SPark blocking it in,” the affidavit said. “The male with the tattoos then took off running southbound across E. Main Street. (She) advised she told the driver of the car she was not moving. She then advised the suspect vehicle started backing up and drove away.”

As police were investigating the scene, according to the affidavit, the owner’s daughter found the yellow car parked nearby. Police went to a residence where they spoke to a man they identified as the driver.

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The driver told police that he didn’t know Williams was going to steal from the store when he agreed to drive him, the affidavit says. The man was arrested but has not been charged, according to online records.

Through a police investigation, Williams was identified as the suspect and was arrested late last week. A next court date in the case has not been set.

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