WARSAW — Delaware and Kosciusko County officers have arrested a Mentone man on various theft and burglary charges in a recent joint investigation.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies initially responded to two separate residential burglaries on Aug. 11, at the 12000 block of W CR 600S, Mentone.  Various items were reported stolen that included a compound bow, archery releases, chainsaws, DeWalt tools, as well as a .45 caliber handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun.

On Aug. 14, Kosciusko County detectives were advised by Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies that they had arrested Kassidy Glen Phipps, 29, Mentone, during a gun show located at their county fairgrounds. Phipps had purportedly stolen and fled with an AR15 assault rifle, but later returned to gun show possessing the stolen firearms from the Kosciusko County burglaries, with the intention to sell the weapons. Delaware County officers were able to apprehend Phipps, but a second, unnamed suspect at this time, fled from officers with the stolen Kimber .45 caliber handgun from Kosciusko County.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s detectives interviewed Phipps, who admitted to the burglaries and thefts that had occurred on Aug. 11. Phipps also stated to Kosciusko County Detective Shane Bucher that he was attempting to sell the stolen items to purchase heroin. Delaware County officers did subsequently locate heroin related paraphernalia inside Phipps’ vehicle during the time of his initial arrest.  Phipps gave officers consent to search his vehicle, where more items were located that were reported as stolen from the Aug. 11 burglaries.

Delaware and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s detectives are still actively working this incident and have advised that more charges, as well as suspects, could emerge during the continued investigation.

The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office advises that the defendant’s charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.