Police chase 2 men carrying toilet, dishwasher; 1 arrested

4/18/2002

Toledo police officers arrested a 39-year-old Robinwood Avenue man and are looking for a 43-year-old Palmwood Avenue man. Authorities said they saw the two carrying items that they believe were taken from a housing construction site on Vance Street.

Detective Victoria Woodard said officers reported seeing William “Poochie” Griffin, 43, and Darryl Dunson, 39, carrying a toilet and a dishwasher in the 1200 block of Vance about 7 a.m. yesterday.

The men ran when police approached them, police said.

Officers caught Dunson on Blum Street, but Griffin escaped, Detective Woodard said.

A warrant has been issued for Griffin's arrest.

She said Dunson was carrying what is believed to be crack cocaine.

Ms. Woodard said burglars have been hitting new-home construction sites since the beginning of the year, taking everything from windows to carpeting to exchange for cash or drugs.

“These guys [Dunson and Griffin] were just walking down the street with this stuff,” Detective Woodard said. “They don't have a car, but this is just how bold [burglars] have become.

“These sites aren't secured, so they just walk in and take what they could find,” she said. “They're literally walking away with the kitchen sink.”

She said Douglas Co., the construction company building the homes in the Vance area, has lost at least $2,500 in burglarized items.

“This doesn't include the amount of damage that's being done to these sites to get these items,” Detective Woodard said. “The family that bought the home is now delayed from moving in because these things have to be reordered.”

She said neighbors of the sites should contact police about any suspicious activities, since many construction sites are open and not completely secured.