Suspect accused of multiple burglaries Monday faces arraignment today
By MICHELLE LOVATO
Lake County Leader
Darrell Dwayne Smith will enter a plea today on four burglary charges he faces for a pair of residential burglaries and a stolen vehicle, crimes that authorities believe he committed within the past few days.
When arrested Smith was charged with felony money laundering, felony identity theft, felony motor vehicle theft and felony residential burglary along with misdemeanor theft of all others, misdemeanor motor vehicle theft, misdemeanor possession of dangerous drugs, misdemeanor driving while driver’s license is suspended or revoked, misdemeanor possession of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
His affidavit charges include two counts of felony burglary, felony and misdemeanor theft.
Smith was arrested in Ronan Aug. 24 in possession of a stolen van, three laptop computers, a JVC television, a Sony Blu-ray player, a Ruger 10-22 rifle, men’s and women’s clothing, and a variety of other items, a Lake County Court affidavit said.
Law enforcement officers were tipped off Aug. 24 after responding to an emergency dispatch call reporting a residential burglary in Rollins.
While talking to the original caller about their home burglary earlier that day, neighbor
Sam Madich told officers about a different neighbor who reported his van stolen earlier that morning and followed his own van while talking to emergency dispatchers and updating them on its location.
In addition to the strange van theft incident, Madich said a vacation rental house down the street for which he was a caretaker was in question too.
Madich explained that a witness saw a strange van in the vacation home’s driveway as well.
The first residential burglary caller’s home was entered through a rear door, the affidavit said. Missing items included an Xbox and controllers, an Asus and HP laptop, a Ruger 10-22, a 40-inch television, credit cards and an old driver’s license.
Prosecutors said the second, vacation home, was used as overnight lodging.
“…there were cigarette butts in the ashtray and dirty dishes in the sink,” the affidavit said. “It was clear from the dust left behind that a television had been removed as well.”
Later that same day a deputy who learned that Smith, the driver of the stolen van, was stopped at the Ronan McDonald’s restaurant and in custody.
After Smith’s first attempt at misidentifying himself to law enforcement, he finally admitted his true identity and was taken to Lake County Detention Center in Polson for processing.
A search of the stolen vehicle revealed the laundry-list of electronics, the gun and other items.
Smith was ushered past Lake County Justice Court and faces arraignment in Lake County District Court today.
His bail is set at 50,000.