INDIANA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.pal-item.com/article/20110201/NEWS01/102010328/1008

Man faces 2 felonies

Police say 34-year-old used bike as getaway vehicle after stealing computers

BY ROBERT SULLIVAN • STAFF WRITER • FEBRUARY 1, 2011

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Police say a Richmond man who used a bicycle as a getaway vehicle encountered problems that allowed officers to locate and arrest him in connection with the burglary of a Richmond computer business.

An emergency call came in to police around 10:30 a.m. Sunday about the burglary of Computer Solutions, 1007 N. A St. in Richmond.

After arriving at the scene and speaking with a witness who provided a detailed description of the burglar, police began receiving calls from citizens about a man who had just crashed a bicycle and was carrying several computers in a bag.

Richmond police in the 600 block of South H Street located Ronald A. Hopkins, 34, of 2005 Liberty Ave. in Richmond and arrested him on preliminary charges of burglary (Class C felony), possession of stolen property (Class D felony) and public intoxication (Class A misdemeanor).

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"He stole four laptops, a bunch of components and some cash," said RPD Lt. Bryan Ervin. "It wasn't much later that we started getting calls from people about a man matching the description of the suspect at the scene who had wrecked his bike and was carrying computers around.

"Officers found some of the items on the suspect when he was taken into custody. Then we got a search warrant and found the rest of the missing items at his residence."

Police say Hopkins gained entry into the business by prying open the side door of the building.

Hopkins remained lodged in the Wayne County Jail on $15,000 surety bond on the felony counts and $255 cash bond on the misdemeanor charge.

The range for a Class C felony conviction is two to eight years, while a Class D felony conviction carries a range of six months to three years. Both carry a potential $10,000 fine.

Staff writer Robert Sullivan: (765) 973-4471 or rsullivan7@pal-item.com