MITCHELL – A residential burglary caught on a live security feed led to a high-speed pursuit and the arrest of two Lawrence County residents on Tuesday afternoon.
Shawn James Dearborn, 48, of Oolitic, and Hannah Elizabeth Baker, 33, of Bedford, are facing multiple felony charges following an incident at a residence on Dixie Highway.
At approximately 2:36 p.m. on February 17th, Lawrence County Central Dispatch received a priority call from a homeowner reporting an active burglary. The victim told dispatchers he was watching a live RING camera feed that showed a masked male and female breaking into his home.
The victim identified the suspect vehicle as a blue Mazda SUV. Sgt. R. Compton of the Lawrence County Police Department spotted the vehicle traveling northbound on State Road 37 shortly after the dispatch.
According to the probable cause affidavit, when Sgt. Compton attempted to close the distance, and the Mazda accelerated in an apparent attempt to evade police. Officers initiated a felony traffic stop at the intersection of T Street and Mitchell Road.
The occupants were identified as Dearborn and Baker. Canine Boon performed a free-air sniff of the vehicle and gave a positive alert for narcotics at the driver’s door.
During questioning, the two suspects reportedly provided conflicting accounts of the afternoon:
Baker claimed she was simply giving Dearborn a ride to a “buddy’s house” and remained in the car, though she admitted to “freaking out” and speeding when Dearborn began yelling “go, go, go” upon seeing police.
Dearborn allegedly told officers that Baker had asked him to help her retrieve a shotgun from an abusive ex-boyfriend’s home. He admitted to entering the residence but claimed he believed the property belonged to Baker’s acquaintance.
Despite the suspects’ claims, video footage showed both individuals exiting the vehicle and approaching the home wearing masks and gloves. A search of the Mazda and the surrounding flight path yielded a 12-gauge shotgun (identified as stolen from the victim’s home), a white backpack containing a loaded magazine, tools, and a crowbar, and a black-and-white mask discarded along Mitchell Road. A syringe that field-tested positive for methamphetamine found in a purse inside the vehicle.
While a shotgun was recovered, the victim reported that a .38 caliber revolver and an OBD II scanner remain missing.
Dearborn is facing charges of burglary, a Level 4 felony, theft of a firearm, a Level 5 felony, a residential entry, obstruction of justice and criminal trespass.
Baker is facing charges of burglary, a Level 4 felony, theft of a firearm, a Level 5 felony, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a syringe, and obstruction of justice.
Both defendants were arrested on-site and transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
