Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 10-13-17

On October 12, 2017, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a concerned citizen reporting a suspicious vehicle in the area of Hwy C south of New Haven, MO. The citizen was concerned that the occupants of the vehicle were looking for houses to break into as the vehicle had been driving slow through a residential area. Sheriff’s Office deputies and New Haven police officers were notified of the vehicle description. Through a combined effort, the vehicle was located in the parking lot of a bank in New Haven.
 
As Deputies and the New Haven Officer was investigating the subjects and the vehicle they observed a large amount of property inside the vehicle. As investigators were on scene with the subjects, the victims of the burglary had returned home to discover the crime and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators were able to link the property to three different residences throughout Franklin County. The victims lived in Forest Hills Subdivision, Washington, on Buck lick Road, New Haven and on North Bend Road in Union.
 
The property stolen includes 3 firearms, clothes, jewelry, money and tools. Investigators are still contacting municipalities and agencies throughout the area to ensure there are no other victims.
 
The subjects are identified as Justin I. Baxter 19 years of age from Washington, MO. and James A. Altemeyer a 20 year old from Washington, MO. Charges were issued from 2 counts of Burglary 2nd, Property Damage and Stealing. Bond was set on Baxter at $75,000 cash and bond was set on Altemeyer at $25,000.