Two men charged with burglary in Elkhart County
Elkhart County Sheriff\'s Office ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- Two men are accused of breaking into a vacant house and stealing several valuable items.
According to court documents, the property owner noticed a truck parked outside of the residence and two men attempting to get inside. She called 9-1-1 and two Elkhart County Sheriff's Deputies were sent to the address on S.R. 119. When the first deputy arrived, a truck was seen leaving the driveway and heading north. The deputy immediately pulled the vehicle over and was joined by the second deputy.
They spoke to the driver, Eduardo Gonzalez, who was asked to step out of the truck for a pat down. Deputies then spoke to the passenger, Fray Mancilla, who was asked to exit the vehicle. Both men were asked why they were at the home they had just left from. Mancilla reportedly told police they were looking for a friend's house and knocked on the door a few times before leaving.
One deputy then left to find the address of the 9-1-1 caller to speak to her. The deputy on scene told Gonzalez and Mancilla that police were called for a burglary report and they needed to check if anything had been stolen. The deputy looked into the bed of the truck to find several items, including a gold clock, globe, and two duffel bags that had marble statues inside. A luggage tag on one of the bags had an address that matched the house Gonzalez and Mancilla were seen leaving from. The second luggage tag had the same name as the woman who called police.
Around this time, the second deputy had arrived at the woman's home and called the first deputy on the phone. They relayed a list of the items found in the truck which she confirmed belonged to her.
Deputies then placed Gonzalez and Mancilla in handcuffs before further searching them. A gold rock and gold pendant were found in the overalls Gonzalez was wearing. Once taken to the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office, Gonzalez allegedly repeated that they were looking for a friend's home and denied knowing how the items in the truck got there. Mancilla told police the same thing and said he did not know about the truck because it does not belong to him.
Fray Mancilla and Eduardo Gonzalez are both charged with one count of Burglary, a level 5 felony.