Church Burglary Suspect Arrested

An 18-year-old Canton man with alleged ties to a spree of church burglaries in northern Cherokee County has been arrested, the announced this afternoon.

Justin Riffle is in custody at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, charged with burglary and vandalism to a place of worship, sheriff's spokesman Jay Baker said.

"A latent print, which was obtained at the Hillside Community Church in Waleska, led investigators to Riffle," Baker said. "Detectives believe Riffle was working with other suspects and possibly involved in the burglary of two other churches in Waleska and Ball Ground."

Investigators discovered that Riffle had a number of guitars which they believe were stolen from an unknown location and later sold to local pawn shops, he said.

Baker asked anyone with information to call investigators at 770-928-0239.