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October 11, 2012

Police arrest man for burglaries, pizza shop robbery

Debbie Wachter and Nancy Lowry New Castle News

NEW CASTLE — A man police said they caught burglarizing a home also is a suspect in a robbery at Little Caesars Pizza.

New Castle police said they were investigating a series of North Hill break-ins when they found Christopher Michael Pagley, 28, of 316 Lake Drive.

He is charged in connection with that break-in, as well as three other burglaries reported that day — one on East Englewood Avenue and two in the 200 block of East Hillcrest Avenue.

Acting on an anonymous tip, police also learned Pagley and his alleged accomplice in a previous burglary, William Ronald Fry, 28, allegedly are the two men who held up the Wilmington Road pizza shop at gunpoint the night of Sept. 28 and stole $450.

The pizza shop clerk told police the robbers were masked and one had cocked the gun, pointed it at her and threatened to blow her head off if she didn’t open the cash register.

Fry was arrested Oct. 1, and his backpack contained clothing described by witnesses in the pizza shop holdup, according to police. When arrested this week, Pagley was wearing shoes and gloves that matched those police had seen in a surveillance video from the pizza shop.

According to police, officers were investigating a reported burglary on East Hillcrest Avenue about 2 a.m. Monday when they heard banging from about two blocks away. As they combed the neighborhood on foot and in a patrol car, they were told a burglar alarm had been activated in a house in the 200 block of Elizabeth Street.

The officer on foot said he had seen someone holding a claw hammer and running from the house.

He released his dog, who bit the fleeing individual, later identified as Pagley. He was taken to Jameson Hospital for treatment.

The Elizabeth Street house had been entered through a glass door, police said, and a television was found on the floor inside with all wires disconnected.

Police said glass was on the shoes and in the pocket of the hoodie Pagley was wearing.

In connection with the Little Caesars robbery, he is charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, both with threat of serious bodily injury, theft, receiving stolen property and terroristic threats.

Police said charges are pending against Fry, who has addresses at 122 E. Wallace Ave. and 228 E. Laurel Ave., in connection with the pizza shop robbery.

Both men had been arrested previously for allegedly breaking into a vacant house on Edison Avenue Sept. 6.

In Monday’s break-in on East Elizabeth Street, Pagley is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, loitering and prowling at night, possession of instruments of crime and criminal mischief.

 He also is charged with burglary and criminal mischief in the attempted break-in on Englewood Avenue, and with burglary, possessing instruments of crime and criminal mischief in connection with one of the Hillcrest Avenue burglaries. He is charged with burglary and criminal mischief in connection with the second Hillcrest Avenue burglary.

Pagley’s bonds total $225,000. His preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday.

 

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A letter writer to The News has suggested there’s plenty to be negative about when it comes to the city of New Castle. In general, are you negative or hopeful about our city?

I’m negative. Nepotism, corruption, and incompetence have ruled for years. Nothing has changed.
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