CASPER, Wyo. — According to a police affidavit, earlier this week, a woman house sitter near downtown Casper captured an alleged burglar on camera and hid his bicycle, delaying his escape long enough to aid in his arrest.
Kerry Davis Muggenburg, 37, of Mills, was charged in circuit court on Monday with burglary, possession of a burglar’s tool, misdemeanour property destruction, and misdemeanour theft. The bike Muggenburg rode was reported stolen in February, according to the report. Unless proven or pleaded guilty, he is presumed innocent.
According to the report, on Sunday, June 29, shortly after 9 p.m., a woman called the police after discovering a man in the house she had been watching for the past two weeks while the homeowner was out of state. The house is located in the 600 block of East 4th Street, just north of Dave’s Darts and Parts.
She had left two Roku cameras at the house, which notified her phone about the activity. One of the cameras was pointed out the front window, and the woman was alerted when a man arrived on a bike and lingered outside the house before disappearing down the side.
According to the affidavit, the man is then seen inside the home, looking directly at the second camera. He is reportedly on the phone with someone and can be heard asking, “Does he have a gun?”. He then begins opening drawers while wearing gloves. According to the affidavit, the man is easily identified as Muggenburg.
He then appears to notice the camera and mentions being “on camera” to the person on the other end of the phone. He then walks over to the WiFi modem and disconnects it, which interrupts the camera feed.
The woman was already on her way.
When she arrived, she found the bike outside the bike door and hid it. She claims the suspect came out, noticed her, and began fleeing on foot when his bike wasn’t immediately available. She claimed she saw him reach into his backpack and pull out a long black item, which she suspected was a firearm, and she fled.
The suspect then found his bicycle and started pedalling away, just as Officer Andrew Hamilton arrived. The woman pointed him out, and Hamilton followed in his car as Muggenburg pedalled down South Kimball Street towards The Nicolaysen Art Museum. When the police lights came on, he reportedly stopped the bike and laid down when instructed.
Officer Hamilton stated that Muggenburg provided “an anaemic story” about his activities prior to his arrest.
Police discovered a crowbar next to the house and noticed damage to a side window consistent with it being pried open. Muggenburg was charged with possessing a burglary tool, a five-year felony. The window damage was estimated to cost $300.
According to the affidavit, there was evidence that drawers and cupboards had been searched, but no property in Muggenburg’s backpack appeared to have been stolen from the home.
Muggenburg reportedly told police that a person named “Matt” had shown him the house a week before and told him he could go there. He also claimed that the bike, which was discovered to be stolen, had been lent to him by a friend named Shane.
Officer Hamilton noticed that Muggenburg was being followed by a white Chevy Tahoe, which pulled off to the side as Hamilton pursued.
The burglary bond was set at $15,000 cash or surety. Muggenburg is also facing two probation revocations for leaving court-ordered treatment and fleeing from supervision. A $3,000 cash or surety bond was added to those files.
