Alleged burglars arrested after manhunt
PORTLAND MILLS -- The vigilance of a group of neighbors and the efforts of local police brought a pair of accused burglars into custody Monday in northwestern Putnam County.
Michael Raymond Cummings, 35, Indianapolis, and Bryan Findley Akers, 34, Avon, were both booked in the Putnam County Jail in the early afternoon on preliminary charges of burglary.
Following 911 reports of someone going through trailers at Newgent's Campground in the Portland Mills area, Putnam County Sheriff's Capt. Danny Wallace was dispatched to the scene.
Wallace arrived to find a vehicle fitting the description of the calls received. After stopping the vehicle, Wallace began speaking to the driver, who identified himself.
At this point, a neighbor reported to Wallace that he saw the other suspicious man.
The second man fled into the woods, but residents on golf carts began setting up a perimeter to monitor his movements. Meanwhile, Wallace called for backup, including a K9 unit to track the man.
Cloverdale Police Sgt. Charlie Hallam and his K9 partner Chewy responded to the scene, as well as Sheriff Scott Stockton, Maj. Dwight Simmons and Deputy Matt Biggs of PCSD.
Citizens were also instrumental in apprehending the two men, as one was spotted hiding in the woods by a neighbor on a golf cart.
Cummings and Akers were brought into custody and taken to the Putnam County Jail.
Meanwhile, PCSD detectives Pat McFadden and Doug Nally continued the investigation, finding that six trailers had been forcibly entered.
Formal charges had not been filed as of Tuesday evening as authorities continued their investigation.