Full Notification

Public Information Release
July 14, 2011
Captain James Bauman, Public Information Officer


An extensive investigation by the Middletown Community Service Deputy into a string of burglaries committed this past weekend in the Middletown area has resulted in the arrest of two adults and four juveniles. A total of seven burglaries have been solved as a result of the arrests.

The investigation began in the early morning hours of Monday, July 11th, at approximately 3:30 am when a sheriff’s vehicle was stuck by an egg as a graveyard deputy was patrolling the Middletown area on Highway 29 near the Hardister’s Market. When the deputy stopped to investigate, he began checking businesses in the area and heard someone moving around on the roof of the Cow Poke Café.

When the deputy checked that business, he located a shoe print on top of a trash can that had apparently been used to access the roof of the business. The deputy checked the roof of the business but was unable to locate any suspects.

When the day shift Middletown Community Service Deputy took over investigating the circumstances that same morning, he found more shoe prints and several cartons of eggs on the roof of the Cow Poke Café. While checking with local citizens around town, one man revealed that he had seen several juveniles on the roof of Noble’s Liquors two days prior.

Further investigation led to the identity of three Middletown juveniles, a 14 year old female, a 15 year old female, and a 17 year old male. All three were determined to have been on the roof of Nobles Liquors on July 8th. The same three juveniles were also determined to have been on the roof of the Cow Poke Café the previous night.

When the deputy contacted the juveniles, his investigation further revealed that all three were involved in the burglaries of several Middletown businesses over the weekend and two other burglaries previously reported in March of this year.

“Beulah’s Kitchen,” on Calistoga St. had been broken into on the night of July 10th. The cartons of eggs previously found on the roof of the Cow Poke Café were taken from the restaurant, as well as a bag containing approximately $75.00 in coins.

The “Bunkhouse,” on Calistoga St. had been broken into on the night of July 9th. Purses, wallets and items of jewelry valued at approximately $175.00 were taken.

The “Shangrila” restaurant on Calistoga St. had been broken into on two separate occasions between July 6th and July 9th. An unknown amount of cash was taken from the cash register during the first burglary and over $600.00 worth of food and beer was taken during the second burglary.

The “Funtopia” Toy store on Calistoga St. had been broken into on the night of March 10th. Currency, toys, and other merchandise valued at over $550.00 were stolen during the burglary.

The “Olive Tree” Day Spa on Calistoga St. had been broken into on the night of March 11th. Hair care products, cosmetics, and other merchandise valued at over $1,870.00 were reportedly taken during that burglary.

All three juveniles were arrested and booked at the Lake County Juvenile Hall on charges of burglary and receiving stolen property. Shortly after booking the three juveniles, the deputy returned to Middletown to follow up on further leads he had developed that morning.

Further investigation revealed that 18 year old Dorian Jay Decker had been involved in both burglaries of the Shangrila restaurant, and that 18 year old Wyatt Joseph O’Brien had been involved in one of the Shagrila burglaries. Another 16 year old male juvenile was also tied to one of the Shangrila burglaries.

Throughout the afternoon, Decker, O’Brien, and the fourth juvenile were all located and arrested for burglary, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy. Decker and O’Brien were booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and the juvenile was booked at the Lake County Juvenile Hall.

In the course of investigating the last three suspects, the deputy learned that the mother of the juvenile male he had arrested that morning had found a rifle and ammunition in her son’s closet after he had been arrested. Further investigation revealed that those items had been taken in the early morning hours of July 11th during the burglary of an apartment on Barnes Street. All three juveniles initially arrested in the morning were charged with that burglary as well.

Sheriff Rivero expressed his deepest gratitude to Deputy Dennis Keithly for his diligent and expedient investigation into the rash of burglaries. Deputy Keithly was appointed by Sheriff Rivero as the Middletown/Cobb Mountain Community Service Deputy earlier this year.