HOLLAND TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Mar. 14, 2022) – Two men who spent the weekend in the Ottawa County Jail have been arraigned on charges stemming from a Thursday night burglary on Holland’s North Side.
On Monday, 53-year-old Robert Nattress of Wyoming and 27-year-old Austin Lee Gates of West Olive were formally charged with possession of burglary tools and attempted larceny before Holland District Court Judge Juanita Bocanegra. Both men were able to post bond of $5,000 each.
According to Ottawa County Sheriff’s Detective Captain Jake Sparks, deputies were dispatched to an undisclosed business in the 4100 block of 128th Avenue around 10:20 PM. They were able to arrest Nattress, but Gates fled on foot, and he was apprehended about 45 minutes later in the area of US-31 and New Holland Street.
While the suspects were cooling their heels behind bars, sheriff’s detectives executed a number of search warrants during the course of Friday, recovering numerous stolen items such as power tools, lawn equipment, and a personal water craft. The detectives were still sorting out all of the seized loot three days later, and Sparks believes that the total value will be in the thousands of dollars when that inventory is completed.
Investigators believe that the two may have been involved in “at least a dozen incidents over the last several months,” Sparks said, including the theft of catalytic converters, breaking and entering storage units, and larcenies from construction sites. The pair could face even more charges once the investigation is completed.
This case remains open, and anyone with any information is asked to call the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department or Silent Observer (1877-88-SILENT).
Comments