Ballard Co. man arrested in connection with burglary investigation | Crime

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - A Ballard County man was arrested in Florida on August 25 in connection with a burglary in McCracken County.

Jerry J. Compton, 33, was charged with receiving stolen property over $500 and tampering with physical evidence.

Brian K. Johnson a.k.a Eric Ross, 40 of Baker Fla. was charged with second and third degree burglary.

According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, detectives began investigating a burglary July 21 at 6405 Ingleside Road, located in the extreme western part of McCracken County.

Detectives say at the time of the theft, the suspect or suspects stole the victim's lawn mower, pull behind cart and various other smaller items. They say within two days, the victim's property was burglarized a second time. The investigation led detectives a person of interest, identified as Jerry Compton, in Ballard County.

According to the sheriff's department, Compton was interviewed and denied having any knowledge of the burglary or property that was stolen from the victim. As the investigation continued and more evidence developed, detectives  with McCracken County Sheriff's Department and Ballard County Sheriff's Department paid Compton a second visit at his home on King Road. Detectives say a search of that property revealed parts of what detectives believed to be the mower that was stolen from the victim's home on July 21.

Detectives said it appeared that the mower had been partially dismantled in efforts to conceal it somewhere. They say Compton finally admitted to detectives that he had thrown the mower into a creek located in the Ballard County bottoms. The sheriff's department says the mower was found and recovered along with some other items that had been stolen from the victim's home. Compton was charged in Ballard County.

According to the sheriff's department, the investigation continued and a second person of interest developed whom was identified as Eric Ross a.k.a. Brian K. Johnson. Detectives determined  that Ross had been living with some friends on Vaughn Road, just inside Ballard County, and a very short distance from the victim's home during the time of the burglaries. They say a search of the property on Aug.10 revealed numerous items that had also been taken from he victim's home during the course of the burglaries, some of which they say had the victim's name and identifiers engraved on them.

The sheriff's department said a computer check of Ross revealed that he was wanted by the U.S. Marshalls for attempted murder out of California and also out of the state of Florida for extortion. McCracken County detectives took warrants out on Ross for the burglary on Ingleside and entered him into the NCIC system.

On Aug. 25 the sheriff's department says Ross was found in Okaloosa County Florida and arrested on their charges along with new charges of burglary, vehicle theft and giving police a false name.

According to the sheriff's department, the investigation is ongoing and currently being assisted by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department. They say it is unknown when Ross will be extradited back to McCracken County of burglary charges. Compton is in the Ballard County Jail.

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