By HEATHER TOMLINSON, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal
Somerset —
A month-long rash of break-ins and acts of vandalism at several of Pulaski County’s rural churches seems to have come to an end with the arrest of three people this week.“I would say it’s a great feeling for us,” said Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood about the arrests. “Churches are sacred ground ... and it put a great amount of intensity in trying to locate these individuals.”
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, which began investigating when the first break-in was reported in late June, announced Thursday evening that arrests had been made in a case that had many in the community up in arms.Kimberly Beth Flynn, 27, of Parvin Trailer Park, off of Ky. 2227, and Kyle S. Norling, 19, and John L. Lykins III, 19, both of Ky. 1674 in Somerset were arrested Thursday on criminal mischief, burglary and theft charges in connection with break-ins at seven county churches.
“We’re thankful to the police and the work that they did,” said Minister Steve Clayton with Hazeldell Church of Christ, which was broken into on July 13. “They weren’t really interested in just stealing ... they wanted to vandalize.”That seemed to be a common trait among the incidents that first began on June 23 with the break-in of the Union Church of Christ, located on Stilesville Road in Science Hill. Nothing was reported to be taken from the building, but the individuals who forced their way into the church committed what Wood called “criminal mischief” — in essence, vandalizing the building.
On June 25, police received a report of another break-in and vandalism, this time at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church located on Clifty Road. Items were reported to be stolen from that location.On July 11, Sunrise Baptist Church was vandalized, and a fax copier, speakers and a CD burner were taken, among other things. Pine Hill Baptist was the victim of criminal mischief on July 13.
Hazeldell, Clayton’s church, was broken into on July 13 as well, and police reported that monitors and other electronic equipment, along with the church first-aid kit, was stolen. Clayton said the burglars took a CD burner and a computer as well. Clayton also said the church was broken into yet again as recently as this past Monday, stating that the burglars made another mess and took a copier and even the juice used by the congregation during sermons.A late evening e-mail sent to Lt. Brett Whitaker with the sheriff’s department about the latest Hazeldell break-in was not returned by press time Thursday.
It was on July 20, Tuesday, when police received a report of yet another break-in — this time at Bethlehem Baptist Church, located on Bethlehem Ridge Road in Science Hill. It was there that the burglars used tombstones from the church graveyard to smash in windows and break in through the doors, “causing a great deal of damage,” according to Wood.On Wednesday, July 21, Ringgold Baptist Church, located on Ringgold Road, reported a break-in, and items were reported stolen there as well.
Wood said the investigation kept his deputies out at all hours, even calling for some of them to stay in plain cars overnight in hopes of catching a glimpse of the burglars.
Whitaker said Lt. Philip Cross determined, through the investigation, that Flynn may be involved in the break-ins, and he also discovered she had an active warrant as well for failure to appear in district court.
Cross made a visit to Flynn’s residence Thursday morning, and it was there he saw “in plain view,” several items that he had become “very familiar” with throughout his investigation into the burglaries.
“Obviously, we’d been working on this for several weeks,” Cross said on Thursday.
It was at Flynn’s residence at Parvin Trailer Park that police reportedly found speakers, a CD recorder, a laptop computer, first aid kits, a printer, a water hose and other smaller items. Several of those items were identified by police as belonging to Hazeldell Church, Sunrise Church, and Ringgold Church.
As of Thursday, at least one church had stopped by the sheriff’s office to retrieve those items reported stolen.
“They (church members) were very relieved, very pleased,” Whitaker said. “They didn’t even know if their churches were safe.
“They were very relieved that we have these people in custody,” Whitaker added.
Whitaker and Cross said interviews with Flynn would later lead them to a residence on Ky. 1674, where Norling and Lykins were arrested.
Flynn was charged with three counts of third-degree complicity to commit burglary and three counts of theft by unlawful taking, connected with the break-ins at Sunrise, Hazeldell and Ringgold churches.
Norling and Lykins were charged with three counts each of third-degree burglary and theft by unlawful taking in connection with the same three burglaries.
Wood said further evidence was collected connecting the three to the other break-ins as well. That information will be presented to the Pulaski County Grand Jury.
A fourth individual, who was at Flynn’s residence when Cross discovered the items, was interviewed, but Whitaker said she has not been arrested and is not being considered a suspect at this time, but he stated charges against that individual are possible.
Flynn, Norling and Lykins were lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center and the investigation is continuing.
