Arrest after school burglary

By BOB BLAKE

NEW KNOXVILLE — A lone suspect broke into New Knoxville school, damaging doors, locks and security systems in an apparent effort to steal cash, according to school and law enforcement officials.

Superintendent Kim Waterman said a renovation project that ended in 2009 added security features, including surveillance cameras, that alerted district officials and the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office to the break-in.

“In this incident, I think the sheriff’s office will be able to use those tapes to help with their investigation,” Waterman said. “Our security system that was put in place is what notified me and the sheriff’s office that there had been motion in the building. Having those in place, I am confident and optimistic the detectives will apprehend this individual.”

It didn’t take officials long to identify and arrest a suspect in the break-in.

Sheriff Al Solomon said deputies and other police officials were called to the school around 2:30 a.m. by the security system and found entry had been made. By mid-afternoon, Solomon said deputies had arrested Chad D. Reiher, 28, of New Knoxville, and charged him in the case. Solomon said deputies and detectives acted based on evidence at the scene in making the arrest. Reiher was taken into custody without incident, Solomon said.

According to Auglaize County Municipal Court records, Reiher is facing five criminal charges — breaking and entering, theft, possession of criminal tools, safecracking and vandalism. Court and jail officials conducted a video arraignment during which Reiher waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Judge Gary Herman found probable cause Reiher was involved in the break-in and bound the case over to the Auglaize County Common Pleas Court, which handles felony cases.

Herman ordered Reiher held pending the posting of a $100,000 bond, according to court records.

Despite the vandalism charge, both Waterman and Solomon said there was not extensive damage as in past break-ins at area schools.

Unlike the July 2009 break-in at Continental High School, the motive in the New Knoxville case appears to be cash in various offices, Waterman said. In Continental’s case, three teens broke in and vandalized the school, causing more than $100,000 in damage.

The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by New Bremen Police, St. Marys Police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Solomon said.

Published in The Lima News: April 16, 2011