Suspect Turns Self In for South Shore Fire Station Drug Burglary

A former Caledonia Fire Department intern suspected of breaking into South Shore Fire Station 10 on March 19, 2011 to steal drugs has turned himself into police.

Gary Smith, 21, of Kenosha, turned himself in on Oct. 31 to Police. He was processed in and is being held at the Racine County Jail on a cash bond. A $10,000 warrant had been issued for his arrest on Oct. 21.

There is still a warrent out for his accomplice, Charles Peters, 19, also of Kenosha.

"The suspects were identified during the course of the investigation and warrants were issued," said Lietenant Scott Geyer of the Mount Pleasant Police Department. "While Mr. Smith is in custody, efforts are being made to locate Mr. Peters for this same crime."

According to the criminal complaint, for a "structure fire" in the 7800 block of Dovetail Drive. As trucks pulled out of the bays, an individual was seen entering the fire station by ducking under the overhead door as it came down.

When fire fighters returned to the station, they noticed that the doors of the ambulances were open. Missing were all the narcotics from the medicine bags of both ambulances as listed in the criminal complaint:

• clear plastic drug tray with seal,
• 10 mg capulets of Morphine,
• 100 mcg capulets of Fentanyl,
• 2 mg vials of Lorazepam,
• 25 mg vials of Diltiazem,
• 40 mg vials of Amidate. and
• four 2.5 mg vials Diastat.

Smith was identified as a possible suspect because of the caller's use of the term "structure fire," which is not something an ordinary citizen would use when calling in a fire. One of the Caledonia fire chiefs told investigators about Smith's alleged substance abuse problem and his status as an intern. More, the 9-1-1 call was triangulated to have originated from a cell phone pinging off the cell tower in the corner of the parking lot of Station 10.

It turns out Mount Pleasant Police had pulled Smith and Peters over driving Smith's former girlfriend's car 30 minutes before the call was made to dispatch about the fire. When police located the owner of the vehicle, she confirmed that while she was in the hospital, Peters was driving her car and that both suspects had admitted to her that they called in a fake fire alarm in order to break into Station 10 for drugs. Another witness, to whom Smith and Peters also reportedly bragged, backed up the first witness' statement.

Peters was identified, in part, because he has a speech impediment heard clearly on the false emergency call recording. Witnesses named him immediately when they police played the call for them.

Smith faces multiple charges, including one count of felony burglary, two counts of misdemeanor theft, two counts of felony possession of narcotic drugs, and one count of felony intentional obstruction of emergency personnel. If convicted of all charges, he could face up to 24 years, six months in jail and/or up to $75,000 in fines.

Peters faces the same charges when/if he is arrested. The warrant out for his arrest is $10,000.

Residents are asked to leave an anonymous tip with information regarding Peters' whereabouts by calling the Mount Pleasant Police Department Detective Bureau at (262)884-0454 (option #4) or call Crime Stoppers at (262)636-9330, via email through the website www.racine.crimestoppersweb.com or by sending a text message to CRIMES (274637) and typing in TIP417 with your text message.