Court papers show on Jan. 4, Alva Police Officer Kris Franta was dispatched to 202 College in reference to a burglary. He arrived and spoke to Rodney Mustard who said several power tools were missing and a garage door had been damaged by someone prying the door to gain entry.

A cellular trail camera had been set up in the shop and captured an image of a person Franta recognized as Anthony Altobella. The image had a date and time stamp of Jan. 2 at 6:54 a.m. Altobella was the only person photographed inside the building. Mustard, who is Altobella’s uncle, said Altobella did not have permission to be in the building or to remove any items from the building.

On Jan. 5, Franta went to Maple Street to speak with Altobella. In a post-Miranda interview, Altobella said he did not break into Mustard’s building and take any tools, but he was around the building on Jan. 2. He went on to say he had smelled marijuana coming from the shop and walked around the exterior but there was no way in.

Franta told Altobella there was a photograph of him in the building on that day. Altobella replied he was intoxicated and does not remember going into the building. He also stated Nathan Ross was with him while he was outside the building. Franta made contact with Ross who stated Altobella was drinking at his residence that night but left by himself at an unknown time. Ross said he was never at 202 College with Altobella.

The items stolen include: two 20-volt Dewalt impact drivers, one 18-volt Dewalt impact driver, two 20-volt Dewalt drills, one 20-volt Dewalt reciprocating saw, and two 20-volt Dewalt battery chargers. A total value of the tools was approximately $900.

An estimate provided from a local company to Mustard showed the cost to replace the damaged overhead door was $1,332.94.

Anthony Altobella, 24, of Alva, has been charged with burglary in the second degree, a felony. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years.