A 31-year-old Atmore man remained in the Escambia County Detention Center, under a $100,000 bond, this week after his November 29 arrest on burglary, theft and drug charges.
Chief Deputy Mike Lambert with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reported that Joel Thomas Klinger of a 12th Avenue address was arrested on one count each of first degree burglary, third degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, second degree theft, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deputies and Poarch Creek Indian Police responded to an address on Still Farm Road, where a burglary was reportedly in progress. The PCI officers arrived first and found a suspect who was using a screwdriver to force his way into a residence and took him into custody without incident.
When deputies conducted a search of the suspect, they found a .38 caliber pistol on which it appeared that an attempt had been made to obliterate the serial numbers. They also found an undisclosed quantity of crystal methamphetamine and some unspecified drug paraphernalia.
Klinger was taken to the Escambia County Detention Center where investigating deputies were able to determine that he had also burglarized another residence on Still Farm Road.
The case remains under investigation.