Kent Police Make Arrest in Felony Burglary Cases

Police have arrested a Kent man on four felony charges related to thefts from two homes and a business located near his Graham Avenue residence.

Matthew D. Schmidt, 28, was arrested without incident on a warrant at about 12:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at his 1073 Graham Ave. home. Portage County Court online records also show a Deerfield address for Schmidt.

Kent Police Lt. Paul Canfield said prosecution is pending, but that charges include:

• One count of burglary, a second-degree felony, related to the theft of credit cards, a wedding ring and a computer from a Graham Avenue home. Canfield said the theft, reported on Nov. 30, occurred sometime between Nov. 23 and 28.

• One count of burglary, a second-degree felony, and one count of misuse of a credit card, a fifth-degree felony, both related to the theft of a credit card from another Graham Avenue home. The theft, reported Dec. 29, occurred sometime between July and October. Canfield said the credit card was used to make purchases totaling more than $1,000 at area stores.

• One count of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, stemming from the Dec. 5 theft of more than $1,000 worth of tools from Baker's Towing & Repair. The business is located on Lake Street less than one-half mile from Schmidt’s Graham Avenue home.

“There was a rash of burglaries in the area around Schmidt's residence. Several of the victims suspected (him),” Canfield explained. “As a result of investigation by Kent PD officers and detectives, Schmidt was arrested and charged with burglary and B&E.”

Schmidt, who told police he is a laborer for a Brady Lake tree-service company, was booked at the Kent Police Department and taken to the Portage County jail.

Canfield said police have recovered some of the property stolen from the various locations.

Online court records show Schmidt was indicted Dec. 29 by a Portage County grand jury regarding a Dec. 23 incident in Kent, resulting in a charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony.