Officers didn’t have to look far to find the culprit in a burglary reported at a Vernal business on August 9th at approximately 1:13am. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, officers arrived at the body and paint shop and observed that the glass had been shattered from one of the doors. During a search of the premises, 50-year-old George William Merrell was found asleep in the passenger seat of a vehicle in the parking lot. “Upon being awakened and questioned, [Merrell] admitted that he might have broken the glass door, potentially using a sledgehammer. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a sledgehammer in the bed of Merrell’s truck, covered in glass specks consistent with the shattered door. When asked why he broke into the building, Merrell stated that he was looking for a battery charger to charge his truck and some water.” Merrell was arrested and is charged with 3rd Degree Felony Burglary and Misdemeanor Property Damage. He is being held on no bail and has an initial court appearance scheduled for August 14th.
