By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A former Brewton resident who now lives in Baldwin County was caught shortly after he broke into a home near Canoe on December 28.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks confirmed this week that first, James Tyler Peavy, 30, of a Bon Secour address, was caught on camera while committing the crime, then caught relatively quickly by city police officers.
Brooks said dispatchers received a report of a burglary in progress at a residence in the 10,000-block of U.S. 31, near the Canoe community and inside the city’s police jurisdiction.
“Officers talked to the resident, who felt like the suspect might still be inside,” Brooks said. “Officers got a key, made entry, searched and cleared the house. He was not there.”
However, the resident was able to furnish a description of the suspect and the clothing he was wearing, and a home security camera captured an image of the burglar’s face. Peavy was spotted minutes later and taken into custody without incident.
Brooks said the suspect still had in his possession several items matching those reportedly stolen.
“He had cash and jewelry on him when he was arrested,” the police chief said. “That was all returned to the victim. From the initial call, to the suspect’s arrest only took about an hour. That’s not bad.”
Escambia County Detention Center records show that before Peavy left Brewton, he was jailed 16 previous times over the past eight years, including five arrests in 2019 and one in 2020, mostly for property crimes.
APD investigators have charged him with one count each of third-degree burglary and third-degree theft of property, for which he is under total bonds of $30,000. However, Peavy is also on probation and is being held without bond in the county jail on that charge.