Masked Man With Tire Iron Arrested In Spotsylvania Burglary Attempt

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A Fredericksburg-area man wearing a ski mask and carrying a tire iron was arrested after deputies found him trying to break into a Spotsylvania County business early Sunday morning, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded just before 5 a.m. to a commercial alarm at the Tobacco Hut in the 3500 block of Plank Road, the sheriff's office said.

When deputies arrived, they found a man behind the business who was actively trying to break in, according to the sheriff's office. The man was wearing a ski mask, gloves and a long-sleeved black shirt and was holding a tire iron.

Deputies ordered the man to comply, and he was taken into custody without incident, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office identified the suspect as Travis Garton Jr., 34, of Fredericksburg.

Garton was charged with attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools, wearing a mask in certain places and destruction of property.

Virginia court records provide additional details about the charges. The attempted burglary charge under Virginia Code Section 18.2-91 is a Class 5 felony. Garton also faces a Class 5 felony charge of possession of burglary tools under Section 18.2-94.

The mask charge, filed under Virginia Code Section 18.2-422, is a Class 6 felony. The destruction of property charge, involving damage valued at less than $1,000, is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

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Court records show Garton remained in custody as of Tuesday. The sheriff's office said he was turned over to the Rappahannock Regional Jail and was being held without bond.

An arraignment scheduled Tuesday morning in Spotsylvania General District Court was continued. Garton is scheduled to return to court at 10 a.m. Oct. 15. A preliminary hearing is scheduled that day on the three felony charges, while the destruction of property case is set for an adjudicatory hearing.

The sheriff's office said the arrest demonstrated the value of properly maintained commercial alarm systems. The agency responds to approximately 3,000 false alarms each year and encouraged business and property owners to have their systems regularly inspected and serviced.

No disposition has been entered in any of Garton's four cases.