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Whitney
A string of recent burglaries could possibly be tied to a local Kingston man. Nathan Whitney, a 27-year-old male from Kingston was recently arrested after an on-going investigation led police to his front door.
The investigation began on May 6 when Kingston Officer Dakota Hanks was flagged down by the owners of Jack Attack BBQ while on patrol at 6:30 a.m. The victims advised Hanks that their restaurant had been burglarized via the window in the rear of the building. The suspect who broke in the restaurant stole the cash register and the items within it.
Once Hanks entered the building to check things out, he noticed the busted-out window with a small amount of blood smeared on the window frame. Hanks then walked the premises and located a pipe that could have possibly been the instrument used to bust the window. Unfortunately, the pipe was rusted and would not have been conducive for lifting finger prints.
Hanks, with the assistance of Kingston Assistant Police Chief Christ Watson, followed a trail of footprints that possibly belonged to the suspect to get an idea on which direction they might have fled.
The police duo began their investigation by questioning a possible suspect. They reached the idea to start with him because he has prior convictions for theft and breaking and entering. Hanks and Watson located the initial suspect, and questioned him on his whereabouts during the approximated time of the crime. The suspect informed Hanks that he was asleep, but somebody knocked on his door at approximately 5:30 a.m. He said he did not recognize the voice, so he pretended to be asleep.
Realizing that part of the investigation had hit a dead end, the officers left.
Even though the investigation went dry, Kingston Police would get another chance to nab actual suspect on May 12. At approximately 2:45 Tuesday morning, Kingston Officer Brandon Marques contacted by Marshall County dispatch for a BOLO on a male subject wearing a green hat, and a jacket who attempted to break into Country Kitchen in Kingston.
Marques answered the call, and worked his way toward the location. He did not notice anybody in the immediate vicinity of the restaurant, but saw a man fitting the description walking near North Main Street and Second Street.
While questioning the suspect, who turned out to be Whitney, Marques noticed the suspect sweating profusely, even though his breath was not staggered. He also noted that Whitney allegedly had slurred speech.
When dispatch returned the findings from the background check for Whitney, Marques was unable to hear the priors due to traffic noise – the suspect has a prior conviction for First-Degree Robbery. The suspect was cleared for any active warrants. Because Marques was unable to hear the prior conviction, and Whitney had no outstanding warrants, the officer drove Whitney back to his residence in the 400 block of South Kemp Street.
Once Marques returned to the scene of the crime, Country Kitchen, he noticed severe damage to the door frame to the employee entrance. The reporting party alleged that she was working and heard a loud noise. When she went to investigate the noise, she was allegedly greeted by a man in a green jacket and hat who shouldered his way into the door.
Marques then found out that there was video footage of the encounter and watched it. According to Marques, the video showed a male with a cap and black gloves on holding what appeared to be a pry bar. When the pry bar did not allow the suspect entrance into the building, the video shows him slamming his way through the door, then immediately closing it and fleeing.
Once the suspect was identified as possibly being Whitney, Marques and Bridgeman headed to the address on South Kemp to make the arrest. Bridgeman noted he requested assistance from Marshall County Deputy Steven King because the state of the residence was unknown.
The officers had to knock a few times to rouse Whitney, but he eventually came outside to speak with the officers. Bridgeman instructed Whitney to place his hands behind his back because he was being arrested. Even though Whitney complied without incident, he was belligerent by cussing and spouting insults to the officers.
Whitney was taken to the Marshall County Jail and booked. Initially, he was charged with First-Degree Burglary and Public Intoxication – the burglary at Country Kitchen is listed as First-Degree because there was somebody in the restaurant. However, more break-ins would mount up against Whitney, At approximately 7:10 a.m. on May
At approximately 7:10 a.m. on May 12, dispatch informed the officers of a break-in at the Do-it-Best building, using the same method of entry.
The burglary that occurred at the Do-it-Best had missing items like a cash drawer, a pair of black and orange gloves, and pry bar. Due to the items stolen from one crime scene being used and found at another crime scene, more charges were placed on Whitney.
He is currently booked and facing charges for First-Degree Burglary, two counts of Second-Degree Burglary, and Public Intoxication. There is currently no bail listed for Whitney.
An online search showed prior Oklahoma convictions for First-Degree Robbery, Possession and Public Intoxication.