On Friday morning, Juneau Police Department officers arrested Juneau resident Shawn Travis Beaird, 35, in connection with breaking into two businesses near the Nugget Mall earlier in the morning, according to a JPD release.
A man was seen trying to break into the back door of a business in the 2000 block of Jordan Avenue at around 8 a.m. Friday, but when JPD officers arrived the man was gone. Officers found that the back entrance was shared between three businesses — Checkmate Pawn, Chez Alaska and Papa John’s Pizza.
Police discovered that Chez Alaska and Papa John’s had been broken into. At one of the two burgled businesses, cash was taken. At the other one, cash was taken and an estimated $2,000 worth of damage was done to the inside.
Officers searched the area and saw a man who matched the description given to them by the caller who reported the break-in. The person in question was seen getting into a blue 2000 Cadillac and leaving the area. Officers caught up to the car on Del Rae Road and pulled it over.
Officers identified Beaird, who was the passenger in the vehicle. Beaird was detained for questioning, and the officers released the driver of the vehicle. All of the cash stolen from the businesses was recovered and returned to the businesses.
Beaird was placed under arrest for three counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief and two counts of fourth-degree theft. He was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center and held without bail.
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or alex.mccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.
