A 17-year-old Port Washington boy will face criminal charges after breaking several local businesses' windows as well as stealing some cigarette paraphernalia from the Smoke Shack.
Oliver Trice is facing two misdemeanor charges in Ozaukee County Court for criminal damage to property and theft as well as a felony burglary charge; he could get up to 14 years in prison and faces fines of up to $45,000.
Port Washington police were made aware of the crime at 2:37 a.m. Dec. 23 after a George Webb employee called to report the sound of breaking glass in the direction of the Smoke Shack, according to the criminal complaint. The employee looked outside after hearing the noise and saw a fire extinguisher on the ground and also noticed a person fleeing the building.
A fire exinguisher had been stolen from the Maytag Laundromat earlier that night, according to Port police reports; A window at Bernie’s Fine Meats had been broken, though nothing was taken; a window was broken on a vehicle parked near Bernie's, as well as a broken window on the Pebble House.
Upon arrival at the Smoke Shack, officers noticed the back door wide open and foot steps tracking all the way to a wooded area behind the buildings.
Trice had actually been out with a 15-year-old Grafton boy; another officer on patrol noticed a boy meeting the 15-year-old's description walking on Wisconsin Street near Franklin Street after the burglary, the complaint said. Upon speaking with the teen, the officer noticed alcohol on his breath.
The officer took the teen into custody for underage alcohol consumption, the complaint said. In searching the teen, the officer found cigarette lighters, a tobacco pipe, a bag of tobacco and other stolen items secured on his person.
The 15-year-old admitted to being out with Trice, drinking alcohol and using the fire extinguisher to break into the Smoke shack, the complaint said. The two teens then entered the Smoke Shack together.
Officers then spoke with Trice, who admitted to being with the 15-year-old, but said it was the younger one who had broken into the store, the complaint said; Trice said he had only stolen one electronic cigarette lighter which was still in his bedroom drawer.
Trice will appear in court at 10 a.m. Jan. 24 for a status conference.
