Woman Arrested for Breaking Into Casper Business
A woman was arrested Friday night after allegedly breaking into a business where she used to work and then calling police.
Marilyn Margaret Washburn, 49, is accused of burglary, a felony which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Washburn was arrested at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday after police investigated a break-in at a business on South Beverly.
Court documents say the business owner showed up shortly before 9 p.m. Friday to do some work. As he pulled up to the north side of the building in front of the glass front door, his headlights illuminated the interior of the store and he saw a person inside.
He reportedly recognized the person as Washburn, who rented a property next to the business and would perform miscellaneous maintenance tasks around the business.
Washburn allegedly disappeared inside the business, and Clark called 911.
As officers were responding, they were told that a second person -- Washburn -- had called to report the break-in.
According to the affidavit, Washburn told dispatchers that she "saw someone taking something to the front door," and "saw someone going up the alley but they weren't running or anything, and when I said, 'hey!' they took off running."
When asked what the person she saw was wearing, Washburn allegedly said "It was dark, I don't... clothing."
Officers arrived at the business and cleared the building, noting an open steel door leading to the alley on the east wall of the building and finding multiple drawers that had been opened and rifled through, according to court documents.
Police talked to Washburn, who reportedly told police that had bought a vapor cigarette and a bottle of soda at the Loaf N' Jug before leaving and driving through the alley behind the business. It was then that she saw broken glass in front of the window.
Washburn allegedly said she got out to investigate and saw a person in the alley, but the person ran off. Washburn said she then went inside the Loaf 'N Jug and called police.
According to court documents, Washburn said no more than three or four minutes had transpired from when she left the Loaf 'N Jug originally to when she returned to use the phone to call police.
But the Loaf 'N Jug clerk who worked during the incident told police that Washburn purchased a vapor cigarette, left, and returned 15 minutes later when she called police and then bought the soda.
Court documents do not specify what, if anything, was taken from the business.