The Ketchum Police Department reports that two officers were alerted about 2 a.m. Wednesday by a concerned citizen of a possible burglary in progress downtown. The officers, who were on foot patrol, went to the Roosevelt Tavern, located at Main and Sun Valley Road, where the citizen observed a male subject crawling into a window. Sergeant Nathan Taylor and Officer Eric Gonzalez waited outside the window until the suspect appeared and attempted to leave the building. At that point, Jon D. Hampton, 25, of Ketchum, was arrested for burglary.
Police said that when Detective Scott Manning interviewed Hampton, he confessed to the burglaries that occurred at Ozzies Shoes and the Ketchum Grinder earlier this month. Hampton consented to a search of his residence on Leadville Avenue, where evidence in the form of stolen shoes and cash was recovered.
Hampton was transported and booked into the Blaine County Jail and charged with three counts of burglary and one count of possession of stolen property, all felonies.
"As a special note, the Ketchum Police Department wishes to thank the anonymous citizen for bringing forth the information about the suspicious person," said Assistant Police Chief Mike McNeil. "Many, many times, citizens witness crimes in progress. With their help and willingness to protect the community they live in, police officers are able to apprehend these criminals. The Ketchum Police Department wishes to thank all of you."
