A Morgan County man who was wanted by the Sheriff’s Department for a substantial burglary on Mawani Terrace was apprehended in Frederick County, Virginia on Saturday, February 10 and is being charged for similar crimes in that jurisdiction.
Sheriff K.C. Bohrer had issued a “Wanted” poster for Cole Alexander Puffenberger, 20, late last week after Lt. Seth Place identified Puffenberger as the suspect in local thefts.
Puffenberger was described as being “armed and dangerous” when police determined he was suspected of stealing a handgun from a local residence. The majority of items stolen from that property included a trailer, snowblower, lawn mowers and other heavy equipment, said Bohrer.
Police located several of the items at Jake’s Salvage in Frederick County, Virginia, operated by a relative of Puffenberger’s. Bohrer said items from Morgan County burglaries and others in Virginia were found at that location.
Public information helped police focus on a particular are where Cole Puffenberger had been seen. Bohrer said the suspect fled from them and police located him in the wooded area in a camper trailer. Puffenberger initially refused to surrender to police but changed his mind when Frederick County officers decided to bring in a K-9 to assist.
Bohrer said Puffenberger was not armed when he was arrested.
He is being held in Frederick County awaiting a hearing on the Virginia charges against him. He could be extradited to West Virginia to face Morgan County charges.
Sheriff Bohrer said the case is still under investigation as there is stole property that has not yet been recovered.
