Officers from the Winona Police Department foiled a burglary in progress last week.
According to Winona Chief of Police Tommy Bibbs, Captain Calvin Robinson and Officer Orlando Bolden responded to a call in the early morning hours on Thursday, August 8 at El Cabrito Mexican Restaurant in Winona.
Bibbs said the owner had installed cameras around the outside perimeter of the restaurant, and he could get live video on his cell phone if they were triggered.
“He could see someone at the back door,” said Bibbs. “He saw a guy at the back of the building, and then be busted the back door in and went into the restaurant.”
Bibbs said Robinson and Bolden arrived at the restaurant, and the burglar was still inside the building.
According to Robinson, as they searched the building Bolden saw a door that led to a bathroom. It was locked with no handle on the outside.
“Bolden took his knife and got the door open,” Robinson said. “That is where we found him. He was wearing a hoodie with a shirt around his face and medical gloves.”
Robinson said the burglar was taken into custody.
Bibbs identified the suspect as Jatori Washington, 21, of Winona, who was charged with burglary of a business. Bond has been set at $5,000
Bibbs said he wanted to thank Robinson and Bolden for a job well done.
“This shows with an alarm system on your business or house, it helps us catch and prosecute [criminals] with the help of the public,” Bibbs said. “It does work. I’d like to thank those two officers for a great job. With the community’s helping us and doing things according to protocol, anything is possible.”
Robinson praised the dispatchers at the Montgomery Emergency Operations Center.
“They helped with the speedy response,” Robinson said.
