Suspect arrested in car break-ins

Walter Lee Terry, a 32-year-old Libby man, was arrested in the early morning hours of Christmas Day and could be facing up to three years in jail and $3,000 in fines.

Terry was charged with five misdemeanor counts of attempted criminal trespass to a vehicle and one count of criminal trespass to a vehicle, also a misdemeanor. Each of the counts is punishable by fines of up to $500 and six months in jail.

Deputy Brandon Holzer of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office arrested Terry after tracking him through fresh snow, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

In his narrative, Holzer reported being on patrol at approximatly 2:20 a.m. when he discovered fresh tracks in the snow. Due to the rash of vehicle break-ins in the area, Holzer decided to follow the tracks back to Regh Drive, where he observed the tracks leading to a vehicle with the window and door handle wiped clean of snow. 

“I tracked the footprints back to Regh Drive where I observed the tracks going up to a single car,” Holzer wrote. “The window was wiped clean of snow and the handle was clean of snow. At this point in time, I believed a crime was attempted.”

Holzer then followed the tracks to Fireman’s Park in Libby, where he noticed a person had laid down in a snow bank, before getting up and running into the woods. He followed the tracks into the woods behind a local grocery store where he caught up to Terry and arrested him. 

Holzer said the print pattern of Terry’s shoe matched those on the street near the vehicle.

“I analyzed Walter Terry’s shoe and it was a split toe/heel Nike shoe with a very distinct pattern,” Holzer wrote. “I followed the tracks back to Regh Drive and confirmed that these were the same as Walter Terry’s.”

Holzer reported following the tracks back to Woodway Avenue, where it appeared someone had attempted to break into six different vehicles, one successfully.

“We then followed the tracks over to Woodway Ave.,” Holzer wrote. “One attempt was made at 121 Woodway Ave. without success. A vehicle was entered and gone through at 133 Woodway. Two vehicles were attempted for entry at 183 Woodway without success. The total number of vehicles attempted to break into was six. Only one of the vehicles had been successfully opened and gone through.”

Terry has entered a plea of not guilty and was released on bond. He is next scheduled to appear in Lincoln County Justice Court February 18, 2016.