Police arrest two suspects after break-ins on Main St.

Two suspects were arrested Sunday in connection with burglaries of the Daily Grind and the Thrifty Grandmothers store in Colfax in the early morning hours last Wednesday. The officers report said doors to both businesses were pried open and cash was taken after containers were removed and smashed open behind the two buildings.

One of the suspects is a 17-year-old Colfax juvenile, and the other suspect is Vance Mey, 19, Winona. Mey was arrested at the Whitman County jail where he had been booked Friday as a suspect in a domestic violence arrest.

The arrest followed an investigation by Colfax police officers and county deputies following the early morning burglaries of the two Colfax businesses.

According to Colfax investigation reports filed in court with the arrests, the two suspects used a crow bar to open the doors of the Daily Grind and the Thrifty Grandmothers shop.

The report said a cash register was taken from the Daily Grind and found smashed next to the flood channel wall behind the business.

The cash drawer was taken from the Thrifty Grandmothers and it was smashed in a garage in the east Colfax alley behind the shop.

Among items missing from the Thrifty Grandmothers was a Mickey Mouse watch which the report alleges was taken by the Colfax juvenile.

The arrest report alleged the two suspects walked to the Thrifty Grandmothers shop break-in, returned to the residence of the Colfax youth and then decided to go to the Daily Grind and take cash there.

The Colfax report alleges $248 was missing from the Daily Grind and $182 from the Thrifty Grandmothers which is operated to generate earnings to donate to needy causes in the area.

Sheriff Brett J. Myers said the investigation led to identification of a third suspect, Shelby Rice, 19, a former Endicott resident.

The reports on the Colfax arrest alleges Rice and the Colfax juvenile went to Endicott Sept. 9, pried open the door of the Endicott Food Market and loaded up two duffel bags with food, money, pop and cigarettes.

The report said the Endicott break-in began when the suspects located a truck with the keys in the ignition at the fairground and drove to Endicott. The truck was later abandoned.

The Colfax juvenile was taken to Martin Hall. He was arrested on two probable charges of burglary, possession of stolen property and malicious mischief.

Mey faces probable charges of two counts of burglary, possession of stolen property and malicious mischief. He also faces a probable assault charge from the domestic violence arrest Friday, two days after the Colfax break-ins.

Sheriff Myers said Rice could also face a charges of burglary for her alleged role in the Endicott Market break-in two months ago.

Formal chargers had not been filed against the duo as of Tuesday. Mey and the Colfax youth were released on their own recognizance.