East Ridge police urge residents to lock cars, take valuables inside after string of auto burglaries

Leandrese McDowell

The East Ridge Police Department is urging residents to lock their vehicles and not leave valuables behind after a string of auto burglaries were reported Wednesday morning.

Police were called to the 3600 block of Weldon Drive at around 6:10 a.m. after a person found several school supplies scattered on the ground, according to a news release. Officers later found the owner, who was located just a few houses over, and was able to describe the bag from which the items came from--a navy blue backpack with a specific embroidery on the front. She checked her vehicle, and sure enough, the bag, along with some electronics, were gone.

Officers then returned to the original caller's house and, while gathering his information, a back 2007 Kia Optima drove by, toward the dead end of the road, the news release states. The resident noted the vehicle was unusual for the dead-end street, and officers noticed the vehicle's temporary tag was altered and one of the brake lights were out.

Rashawn Caslin

Police stopped the vehicle for the traffic violations, resulting in the recovery of the stolen backpack, which was sitting in plain view, according to the news release.

The driver, Leandrese McDowell, 28, and the passenger, Rashawn Caslin, 21, were removed from the vehicle and detained, the news release states.

Police found a loaded Taurus .380 handgun, which turned out to have been stolen. And McDowell's license was found to have been suspended.

Both suspects were transported to the East Ridge Police Department and the vehicle was taken to the department's impound lot to be searched, according to the news release. Detectives obtained a search warrant and found additional property from three other burglaries.

McDowell and Caslin were placed under arrest and taken to the Hamilton County Jail. They were both charged with auto burglary and theft-related charges. Additional charges are pending the investigation of surveillance footage and seized property.

All of the vehicle burglaries allegedly carried out by McDowell and Caslin were perpetrated against unlocked cars and after dark, the news release states. Surveillance footage captured by a resident showed the two tried to get into additional vehicles but gave up after finding they were locked.