Strange burglaries lead to felony charges for Vernal man

Strange burglaries lead to felony charges for Vernal man

(Duchesne County Jail)


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ROOSEVELT — A Vernal man is facing felony charges after a pair of unusual burglaries, including one where investigators say the man forced his way into a Roosevelt house and brandished a gun while claiming to be a police officer.

Skylar Rick Flanders was shirtless when he forced his way through the front door of a house on Clubhouse Drive in Roosevelt just before midnight Sunday, severely damaging the doorjamb, according to charging documents. He had a handgun, which he pointed at the homeowner, telling the woman he was a police officer "checking for intruders," the charges state.

Flanders, 24, was gone before the first police officer arrived, Roosevelt Police Chief Rick Harrison said. Officers were still at the first home when dispatchers received a call from a woman who lives on nearby Areva Road.

The woman told dispatchers there was a shirtless man wearing black shorts and glasses at her door asking for help "because someone was after him," charging documents state.

Officers went to the second house and took Flanders into custody. He was taken to Uintah Basin Medical Center, where he was treated for several small cuts before being booked into the Duchesne County Jail, Harrison said.

Another burglary

Several hours after Flanders' arrest, officers received a report of a burglary at the Roosevelt Golf Course clubhouse. Police said the burglary happened just before midnight, based on surveillance video.

Police said the video showed Flanders breaking out a window, climbing into the clubhouse and opening a Gatorade that was available for sale. Flanders' cellphone was found inside the clubhouse, the charges state.

Investigators showed a photo of Flanders to the woman at the first home, and she identified him as the man who threatened her with a gun, the charges state. Flanders allegedly told police he had been abducted by people he didn't know and "held hostage in a basement for the last two days," according to court records.

"That doesn't fit with what friends and family say," Harrison said, adding that Flanders may have been under the influence at the time of the incident.

Search for the gun

Flanders did not have a gun when police arrested him and denied having a weapon because he said it would be illegal for him to possess one. On its Facebook page, the Roosevelt Police Department asked people living between Clubhouse Drive and Areva Road to check for a gun in their yards and garbage cans.

The gun still had not been found Monday night, Harrison said.

Prior convictions

Court records show Flanders has prior convictions for violation of a protective order and domestic violence assault. Duchesne County prosecutors charged him Monday in 8th District Court with aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, burglary, impersonating a police officer, theft and criminal mischief.

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Geoff Liesik

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