ABERDEEN, Ohio – The Aberdeen Police Department recovered on Wednesday three of the six missing firearms stolen on two separate break-ins at the police station over the past two months.
Police have arrested two suspects and charged one in connection with thefts.
Daniel Rosselot, 18, of Aberdeen was charged with two counts of breaking and entering, one count each of theft of firearms, theft of money, theft of drugs and tampering with evidence. Charges are pending against the second suspect who police refused to identify.
The thefts took place Feb. 11 and March 21 when police entered the station in the early morning hours and discovered someone had broken into the property room hours earlier and taken several items.
The Feb. 11 break-in most likely involved only Rosselot and three .45-caliber semiautomatic pistols were missing from the property room, said Aberdeen Police Chief Michael McMillen. The second burglary of the station involved both suspects, and money and drugs were stolen in addition to three more guns, according to McMillen. Both times, the burglars pried open the doors of the station and property room with a crow bar, the chief said.
McMillen said information quickly spread throughout the community about the identity of the burglars after one allegedly bragged about breaking into the police department. The suspects said they stashed three of the guns at Rosselot’s brother’s house in Mason County, McMillen said, where police allegedly found the guns well hidden in the back of a shed. Some missing marijuana, prescription pills and money was also recovered, McMillen said.
To prevent future thefts, McMillen said the police department has taken extra security measures and moved the property room. He said he is confident the station is as secure as possible.
“You could have Fort Knox and someone could still get in,” McMillen said. “We are confident it is more secure.”
Rosselot is out on bond from the Brown County Detention Center. McMillen said he plans on charging the other suspect today.
