A 48-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after police say he burglarized Big Red Liquors two days prior.
Jeremiah Benefiel was arrested on charges of burglary, marijunana possession and possession of paraphernalia.
Bloomington Police Department Capt. Ryan Pedigo said the Walnut Street Pike Big Red Liquors location’s security alarm rang at 9:13 a.m. Sunday after a suspect used a large rock to bust open the glass front door.
Pedigo said police viewed security footage showing a man breaking the glass door and using his foot to kick out the glass. The man entered the store and stole one bottle of New Amsterdam vodka and one bottle of Pinnacle Vodka. The bottles cost $19.99 each.
Bloomington Police Department obtained a photo of the suspect from security camera footage. Pedigo said officers found a drop of blood near the broken glass and took a sample for DNA analysis.
Two days later, an officer was patrolling near the intersection of Third Street and Patterson Drive when he saw a man walking down the street who looked like the photo of the burglary suspect, Pedigo said.
Pedigo said Benefiel told the officer he could search his backpack. The officer found clothes in Benefiel's backpack matching the suspect's clothes and noted Benefiel's arms had visible injuries that may have been from breaking the glass door.
When the officer told Benefiel he was taking him to the police station for questioning, Benefiel told the officer he had marijuana and a glass smoking device with him.
Benefiel denied burglarizing the store, and his backpack did not contain the stolen bottles of vodka.
The investigation is inactive, but Pedigo said a DNA analysis will be run to potentially match Benefiel to the blood found at the scene.
