Auburn police arrested two men yesterday morning on charges of attempted burglary, theft of property and arson.
Joshua Blake Jones of Auburn, and Jeremy Scott Jones of Villa Rica, Ga., were charged with third-degree burglary, first-degree theft of property and second-degree arson.
Acting Police Chief Tommy Dawson said the men were apprehended because of the actions of an officer new to Auburn's police force.
"All of this revolves around one alert young officer," Dawson said. "The officer saw a suspicious vehicle behind the buildings at North Dean and Opelika Road and went to investigate."
The vehicle fled the scene and crashed in the 400 block of North Dean Road, at which point both men abandoned the vehicle. Auburn police officers found "unopened alcoholic beverages," Dawson said.
The Auburn Fire Department was called to the original location of the suspicious vehicle because officers saw smoke coming from Archie's Oyster Bar. Dawson said public safety officials determined the fire was "intentionally set," and Archie's had been burglarized.
Joshua Jones was arrested shortly after fleeing the vehicle and Jeremy Jones was arrested about 3 p.m.
Dawson said the case is an example of great work done by the members of the Auburn police force.
"We were blessed with great police work on behalf of the officer that saw them," Dawson said.
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