Three arrested in home burglary spree

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office arrested three individuals Tuesday afternoon in connection with at least 10 residential burglaries in the Carson Valley.

The trio was arrested after police followed their car from the Gardnerville Ranchos Sandpits to Minden and then pursued them on foot in downtown Minden.

Timothy Charles Morgan, 18, of Gardnerville, Robert Blaik Jorgenson, 25, and Melanie Marie Kern, 23, of Gardnerville, were all placed under arrest.

In late June, the sheriff's office began an investigation into a rash of home burglaries in the Valley.

The burglaries were similar in that the act occurred during the day, that a rear or side door to the home was forcibly opened to gain access, that the home was ransacked and that cash, coin, jewelry and camera equipment was stolen.

During the course of the investigation, Morgan was identified by the sheriff's office as having a possible connection to the burglaries. As a result of his suspected involvement, investigators set up surveillance of him.

On Tuesday afternoon at about 3 p.m., Morgan was observed with Jorgenson and Kern in a white Toyota sedan in the sandpits exhibiting suspicious behavior.

As the trio drove towards Minden, a decision to stop the vehicle was made. As officers communicated with one another via the radio, the sedan was able to elude the pursuit.

It was later discovered that the suspects possessed a scanner and were listening to the officers formulate their plan to stop the vehicle.

The vehicle was found shortly thereafter, abandoned in Minden on Esmeralda Avenue near the CVIC Hall, The trio was spotted on foot not far from there and when officers attempted to make contact with them, Jorgenson fled toward the Carson Valley Inn.

Morgan and Kern were placed under arrest, as was Jorgenson once he was tracked down.

A subsequent search of the sandpits revealed a cache of stolen property.

Investigators discovered additional stolen property at a home in the Gardnerville Ranchos used by these subjects.

All three subjects are in Douglas County jail on charges of possession of stolen property. Additional charges are likely as the investigation unfolds.

Morgan is being held without the possibility of bail while Jorgenson and Kern are each in on $25,000 cash only.