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Man Nabbed For Stealing Chief's SUV
POSTED: 5:56 am MST July 26,
2008
UPDATED: 7:57 am MST July 27,
2008
PHOENIX -- U.S. Marshals used a Taser to subdue a man after a barricade situation and arrested him in connection with stealing a police chief's SUV.The incident began when officers from the U.S. Marshal's Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety and Surprise police located Kevin Kern, 30, driving a rental car.Kern was wanted for numerous burglaries, including the theft of the uniform, badge, gun and vehicle owned by Surprise Police Chief Daniel Hughes.Officers conducted a traffic stop at 28th Street and McDowell Road. Kern ran from the vehicle as officers pursued him, authorities said.
Kern attempted to break into two other residences before kicking down the door at 1816 N. 28th St, where he barricaded himself in the unoccupied house, officers said.After four hours of negotiations, Kern fled through the rear of the home and then set the house on fire by breaking a natural gas line, police said.Investigators said they believe Kern committed numerous burglaries in the past two weeks he was at large. At the time Hughes' vehicle was stolen, Kern was out on bond release for another crime.During the entire negotiations, Kern attempted to entice the DPS Special Operations Team to enter the home after he had set several booby traps by using water and electrical cords, authorities said. Kern also painted the windows so officers could not see inside the house, police said.Kern was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on numerous charges including his warrant, breaking and entering and arson of a residence. The fire caused extensive damage to the house."This suspect showed total disregard for the property of everyone including the property owner whose house he set on fire as he made his escape," said Lt. James Warriner of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.Officers said they're still trying to figure out what happened to the chief's badge and gun.Earlier this month, Hughes said a thief broke into his locker while he was working out at Mountainside Fitness earlier this month."When I came back, everything was gone out of the locker," Hughes said.Thieves had broken the lock on his locker to gain entry to his valuables.A thief drove his SUV out of the parking lot and then dumped it several blocks away, but the chief's 9mm gun, which had been locked inside, was gone.His empty gym bag was also found, stuffed in one of the men's toilet stalls.The chief said he was able to cancel his credit cards immediately before the thieves were able to use them.
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